^ 


i 


COUNT   BRUHL 


THE  LOTUS  LIBRARY 

Foolscap  8vo,  top  edge  gilt,  with  bookmark. 
Leather,   |L00  net. 


Zyte.     Bv'Hector  Malot.  In  Preparation, 

The  Dream.     By  Emile  Zola.        „  ,^ 

Sidonie*s  Revenge.      By  A.  Daudet. 

The  Poison  Dealer.      By  G.  Ohnet. 

Sevastopol.      By  Leo  Tolstoy. 

The  Woman  of  Mystery.      By  Georges  Ohnet. 

The   Disaster.      By  Paul  and  Victor  Margueritte. 

The  Diamond  Necklace.     By  F.  Fu>3CK-BRENTANn. 

Cagliostro  &  Co.      By  Franz  Funck-Brentano. 

Count   Bruhl.      By  Joseph  Kraszewski. 

The  Latin  Quarter.       By   Henry  Merger. 

Salammbo.      By   GusrAVE  Flaubert. 

Thais.       By  Anaiole  France. 

The   Nabob.       By   Alphonse  Daudet. 

Drink.       By  Zola. 

Madame  Boyary.      By  Gostave  Flaubert. 

The   Black  Tulip.       By   Alexandre   Dumas. 

Sapho.       By   Alphonse   Daudet. 

A  Woman's  Soul.       By  Guy  de  Maupassani. 

La  Faustin.       By  Edmond  de  Goncourt. 

A  Modern  Man's  Confession.  By  Alfred  deMusset. 

The  Matapan  Jewels.     By   Fortune  du  Boisgobev. 

Vathek.       By  William   Beckford. 

Romance  of  a  Harem.     Translated  from  the  French 

by  C.  Forestier-Walker. 
Woman  and  Puppet.       By  Pierre  Louys. 
The  Blackmailers.      By  Emile  Gaboriau. 
The  Mummy's  Romance.    By  Theophile  Gauher. 
The  Blue  Duchess.      By  Paul  Bourget. 
A  Woman's  Heart.       By  Paul  BouRGEr. 
A  Good-natured  Fellow.       By  Paul  de  Koch. 
Andre   Cornells.       By  Paul  Bourget. 
The  Rival  Actresses.      By  Georges  Ohnei. 
Our  Lady  of  Lies.      By  Paul  Bourget. 
Their  Majesties  the  Kings.     By  Jules  Lemaitre. 
Mademoiselle  de  Maupin.     By  Theophile  Gautier. 
In  Deep  Abyss.       By  Georges  Ohnet. 
The   Popinjay.       By  Alphonse  Daudet. 
The  Temptation  of  Saint  Anthony.  By  G.  Fi  aubert. 
Captain  Fracasse.      By  Theophile  Gautier. 
He  and  She.     By  Paul  de  Musset. 
A  Passion  of  the  South.      By  Alphonse  Daudet. 
The  Kreutzer  Sonata.      By  Leo  Tolstoy. 
The  Outlaw  of  Iceland.      By  Victor  Hugo. 


i     • 
•  •  >  3 

•  •  • 


They  pushed  on  at  a  smart  trot.' 


COUNT  BRUBL. 


Frontispiece  f 
seep.  268. 


m.^j% 


"7 

CONTENTS 


PAGE 


CHAPTER   I 7 

CHAPTER   II  ....'..         23 

CHAPTER   III  .         .         .         .         .         .         50 

CHAPTER   IV  .         .         .         .         .         .         72 

CHAPTER   V 78 

CHAPTER   VI  ......         89 

CHAPTER   VII 99 

CHAPTER   VIII 119 

CHAPTER    IX 135 

CHAPTER   X .150 

CHAPTER   XI 170 

CHAPTER   XII .187 

CHAPTER   XIII 203 

CHAPTER   XIV 211 

CHAPTER   XV 223 

CHAPTER   XVI  .  •      .         .         .         .         .234 

M40733 


6  Contents 

PAGE 

CHAPTER   XVII    .         .         .         .         .         .250 

CHAPTER   XVIII 261 

CHAPTER   XIX 284 

CHAPTER   XX       .         .         .         .        •.         .       293 

CHAPTER   XXI 303 

CHAPTER   XXII    .         .         .         .         .         .315 


COUNT    BRUHL 


CHAPTER  I 

One  beautiful  autumn  day,  towards  sunset,  the 
last  flourishes  of  a  trumpet  calling  the  huntsmen 
together,  resounded  through  a  forest  of -beech  trees. 
The  group  of  court  huntsmen  passed  along  the 
wide  highway  that  divided  this  ancient  wilderness, 
accompanied  by  men  armed  with  boar-spears  and 
carrying  nets  ;  the  horsemen  wore  green  dresses  with 
gold  braid,  and  hats  ornamented  with  black  feathers  : 
in  the  centre  of  the  party  were  waggons  laden  with 
venison  and  adorned  with  green  boughs.  The  hunt 
must  have  been  successful,  for  the  huntsmen  were  in 
high  spirits,  and  from  the  waggons  protruded  the 
horns  of  deer,  and  the  heads  of  boars  with  bloody  tusks. 

The  retinue  of  the  lord  came  first ;  there  were 
beautiful  horses,  and  several  lady  riders  with  lovely 
faces.  All  were  dressed  as  for  a  festival,  for  hunting 
was  a  favourite  amusement  with  Augustus  II,  who 
at  that  time  ruled  more  or  less  happily  over  Saxony 
and  Poland. 

The  King  himself  led  the  hunt,  and  at  his  side 
rode  his  eldest  son,  the  prince  then  dearest  to 
Saxony,  and  the  one  towards  whom  the  eyes  of  the 
nation  were  directed  with  expectation.  The  King 
looked  well,  despite  his  advanced  age,  and  rode  his 
horse  like  a  knight ;  whilst  his  son,  who  also  looked 


8  Count   Briihl 

well  but  whose  face  wore  a  sweeter  expression,  looked 
rather  like  his  younger  brother.  A  numerous  and 
brilliant  court  surrounded  the  two  lords.  They 
were  to  pass  the  night  at  Hubertsburg,  where  the 
Prince  would  offer  hospitality  to  his  father,  for 
the  hunting  castle  belonged  to  him.  The  Princess 
Josepha,  daughter-in-law  to  the  King,  and  daughter 
of  the  Imperial  house  of  Hapsburg,  recently  married 
to  Frederick,  awaited  them  at  Hubertsburg.  The 
King's  court  was  so  numerous  that  it  was  impossible 
to  lodge  it  in  the  castle,  and  for  this  reason  tents 
had  been  pitched  in  the  grove  for  the  greater  part  of 
the  retinue.  The  tables  were  already  laid  for  supper, 
and  the  moment  the  King  entered  the  castle,  the  hunts- 
men dispersed  to  find  the  lodgings  assigned  to  them. 
Dusk  began  to  fall ;  the  tents  were  full  of  bustle 
and  animation,  the  young  men's  laughter,  hitherto 
restrained  by  the  presence  of  the  King,  now  re- 
sounded more  freely.  They  were  thirsty,  and 
drinking  commenced  although  the  signal  for 
supper  had  not  been  given.  Soon  they  began  dis- 
puting as  to  which  was  the  prettiest  lady,  who 
was  the  best  marksman,  and  to  whom  the  King 
had  shown  most  favour.  The  Prince  was  the  hero 
of  the  day  ;  a  boar  was  rushing  on  him,  and  he  had 
shot  it  in  the  forehead.  Everyone  admired  his 
presence  of  mind  as  with  steady  arm  he  aimed 
and  fired.  When  the  huntsmen  rushed  forward  to 
dispatch  the  wild  beast  with  their  hunting  knives, 
it  already  lay  on  the  ground  bathed  in  its  own 
blood.  On  this,  King  Augustus  had  kissed  his  son 
on  the  forehead  approvingly,  and  the  Prince  had 
pressed  his  father's  hand  to  his  lips,  but  he  remained 
as  calm  and  composed  after  the  victory  as  he  had 


Count  Briihl  9 

been  before.  The  only  sign  of  good  humour  he 
had  shown  was,  that  he  ordered  a  pipe  to  be  brought 
him,  and  blew  forth  a  larger  cloud  than  usuaL  In 
those  times  men  had  begun  to  use  that  now  universal 
plant — tobacco.  Augustus  the  Strong  smoked  a 
great  deal,  his  son.  Prince  Frederick,  was  a 
passionate  smoker.  During  a  feast  the  men  could 
not  forego  their  pipes.  At  the  court  of  the  Prussian 
King,  pipes  were  served  out  to  everyone,  and  the 
man  who  felt  sick  from  smoking  was  the  laughing- 
stock of  the  others.  It  was  the  height  of  fashion 
to  suck  at  a  pipe  from  morning  till  night.  The 
women  despised  the  habit,  but  their  aversion  did 
not  prevent  the  men  from  indulging  to  excess  in 
the  fragrant  weed.  Only  the  youngsters  were 
forbidden  to  smoke,  the  habit  being  coupled  with 
such  vices  as  gambling  and  drinking.  Therefore 
there  were  no  pipes  under  the  tents. 

The  weary  horsemen  dismounted,  and  seated 
themselves  wherever  they  could,  some  on  the  ground, 
some  on  benches,  and  others  on  rugs.  Arrangements 
had  been  made  for  another  hunt  on  the  following 
day,  in  another  part  of  the  forest,  and  orders  had 
been  given  for  everyone  to  be  in  readiness. 

Not  very  far  from  the  groups  of  elderly  gentlemen, 
a  very  handsome  youth  walked  to  and  fro  from  the 
road  leading  to  the  castle.  He  might  have  been  recog- 
nised by  his  dress  as  a  page  in  the  service  of  the  King. 
His  noble  carriage,  and  slightly  effeminate  figure, 
attracted  the  attention  even  of  the  most  indifferent. 
His  dress  was  elegant,  his  wig  carefully  arranged  ;  his 
pink  and  white  face  beneath  was  almost  as  beautiful 
as  that  of  a  girl  about  to  smile ;  he  had  intelligent 
eyes  that  could  be  merry  or  sad,  brilliant  or  dull; 


10  Count  Briihl 

they  could  even  express  that  which  [was  not  in  the 
soul. 

This  beautiful  youth  attracted  like  an  enigma. 
Almost  everyone,  the  King  not  excepted,  loved  him, 
yet,  while  both  polite  and  useful,  there  was  not  a 
more  retiring  person  in  the  court.  He  never  boasted, 
never  attempted  to  show  his  superiority,  but  if  asked 
to  do  anything  he  did  it  easily,  quickly,  and  with 
exceeding  intelligence. 

He  was  a  petty  noble  from  Thuringia,  the  youngest 
of  four  brothers,  the  Briihls  von  Gangloffs-Sammem. 
Having  sold  his  small  mortgaged  estate,  his  father 
became  a  councillor  at  the  little  court  of  Weissenf  elds  ; 
and  as  he  did  not  know  what  to  do  with  his  son  he 
placed  him  in  the  service  of  the  Princess  Frederick 
Elizabeth,  who  generally  resided  at  Leipzig.  The 
Princess  at  that  time  came  constantly  to  Weissenfelds 
for  market  days  ;  Augustus  the  Strong  was  also  very 
fond  of  these  markets,  and  it  is  said  that  on  one 
occasion  the  young  page  attracted  the  attention  of  the 
King  by  his  beautiful  face.  The  Princess  willingly 
gave  him  to  the  monarch. 

It  was  wonderful  that  a  boy  who  had  never  seen  so 
magnificent  a  court,  so  much  etiquette,  should  under- 
stand his  duties  so  well  from  the  first  day,  that  he 
surpassed  the  older  pages  in  his  zeal  and  ability. 
The  King  smiled  kindly  on  him  ;  he  was  pleased 
with  the  humility  of  the  boy,  who  looked  into  his 
eyes,  guessed  his  thoughts  and  worshipped  the 
majesty  of  the  Roi-8oleil. 

Those* who  served  with  him,  envied  him,  but  were 
soon  captivated  by  his  sweetness,  modesty,  and  readi- 
ness to  serve  them  too.  They  had  no  fears  ;  such  a 
modest  boy  could  never  rise  very  high.     He  was  poor, 


Count  Briihl  ii 

and  the  Bruhl  family,  although,  of  ancient  lineage, 
had  so  fallen,  that  its  rich  relations  had  forgotten  it. 
The  youth  therefore  had  neither  influence  nor  wealth 
to  advance  him,  merely  a  sweet  and  smiling  face. 

And  indeed,  he  was  very  beautiful.  The  women, 
especially  the  older  ones,  looked  at  him  coquettishly, 
and  he  lowered  his  eyes  bashfully.  Malicious 
words,  the  wit  of  pages,  characteristics  these  of  the 
young  men  of  the  court,  never  escaped  his  lips. 
Briihl  admired  the  lords,  the  dignitaries,  the  ladies, 
his  equals,  and  even  the  King's  lackeys,  to  whom  he 
was  invariably  courteous,  as  though  already  aware  of 
the  great  secret  that  the  greatest  things  are  often 
accomplished  through  the  meanest  persons,  that 
lackeys  have  quietly  overthrown  ministers,  whilst  the 
ministers  could  do  nothing  against  them.  All  this 
the  lucky  youth  guessed  through  the  instinct  with 
which  Mother  Nature  had  endowed  him. 

At  that  moment,  as  Henry  Briihl  walked  alone  up 
and  down  the  path  leading  from  the  castle  to  the  tent, 
those  who  knew  him  might  have  said  that  he  indulged 
in  this  solitary  stroll  to  avoid  being  in  the  way  of 
others,  while,  being  seen  of  everyone,  he  would  be 
in  readiness  for  any  service.  Such  persons  are 
favoured  by  good  fortune.  As  he  thus  walked 
aimlessly  to  and  fro  there  came  from  the  castle  a 
young  good-looking  boy,  about  the  same  age,  but 
different  in  dress  and  mien  to  modest  Briihl. 

It  was  evident  that  the  new-comer  was  well  satisfied 
with  himself.  He  was  tall  and  strong,  his  black  eyes 
looked  forth  sharply.  He  walked  swiftly  with  lordly 
gait,  having  one  hand  placed  in  his  richly  embroidered 
vest  and  the  other  hidden  in  the  shirt  of  his  green 
braided  hunting  dress.     His  features  also  were  quiet 


12  Count  Bruhl 

different  to  those  of  Briihl ;  the  latter  looked  more 
like  a  courtier,  the  former  like  a  soldier. 

Everyone  he  met  on  his  way  bowed  to  him,  and 
greeted  him  kindly,  for  from  early  youth  he  had 
been  the  Prince's  companion.  His  name  was  Count 
Alexandre  Sulkowski,  he  had  been  brought  to  the 
court  of  Frederick  as  a  page,  and  was  already  a; 
prominent  huntsman.  And  this  meant  a  great  deal, 
for  the  Prince,  to  whom  hunting  was  rather  a  serious: 
occupation  than  a  distraction,  entrusted  hiin  ^ithi 
what  he  cherished  most  in  the  world.  '    ■ 

Sulkowski  was  respected  and  dreaded,  fo?P  althoilgh 
Augustus  II  with  his  health  and  strength  seemed  ta 
be  i  mmortal,  yet  sooner  or  later  the  god  was  bound 
to  die  like  any  other  mortal.  Thus  Sulkowski,  in 
his  relation  to  the  new  rising  sun,  was  regarded  as  a. 
star  shining  on  the  horizon  of  Saxony.  ' 

On  seeing  Sulkowski,  the  page  assumed  his  modest 
mien,  bowed  slightly,  smiled  sweetly,  and  seemed  as 
pleased  as  though  he  had  met  the  most  beautiful 
woman  in  the  court  of  the  King.  Sulkowski  received 
this  mute  and  respectful  greeting  with  dignified 
benevolence.  He  slackened  his  pace,  and  drawing 
near  to  Briihl,  addressed  him  gaily  ^ 

'How  are  you,  Henry?  What  are  you  thinking 
about  in  this  solitude?  Happy  boy,  you  can  rest, 
whilst  I  have  much  to  do.'  '     ' 

'  If  the  Count  would  order  me  to  help  him  ? ' 

*  No  thank  you.  I  must  fulfil  my  own  duties ! 
Work  for  such  a  guest  as  our  gracious  lord  is 
agreeable.' 

He  sighed  slightly. 
•  *  Well,'  he  continued,  '  the  hunt  was  successful.* 

*  Yes,  very  successful  indeed,'  replied  Briihl.     *  His 


Gount  Bruhl  i3 

Majesty  has  not  been  in  such  a  good  humour  for  a 
long  time.* 

Sulkowski  bent  close  to  Briihl's  ear. 

'  And  who  rules  now  in  the  chamber  ?  ' 

''I  do  not  know.  At  present  there  is  an  inter- 
regnum.' 

^That's  impossible  1 '  said  Sulkowski  laughing. 
'  Is  it  not  Dieskau  ?  ' 

*  I  don't  know.' 

*Is  it  possible,  that  you,  the  King's  page,  do  not 
know?'  .  ;     . 

Bnihl  looked  at  him,  and  smiled. 

'  A  laithful  page  should  not  know  anything.' 

^  I  understand,'  said  Sulkowski, '  but  between  our 
selves-^' 

Briihl  drew  near  the  Count,  and  whispered  some 
thing  in  his  ear. 

'Intermezzo!'  said /Sulkowski.  *It  seems  that 
after  so  many  love  affairs,  that  have  cost  our  dear 
lord  so  much  money,  and  caused  him  so  much  pain, 
intermezzo  will  do.' 

Sulkowski  was  no  longer  in  a  hurry,  either  to  go 
to  the  tents,  whither  his  steps  appeared  to  be  bent, 
or  to  return  to  the  castle.  Taking  Briihl's  arm,  an 
action  which  evidently  gave  the  page  great  satisfaction, 
he  walked  with  him. 

*  I  must  rest  awhile,'  said  he,  '  and  although  we  are 
both  too  weary  to  converse,  I  am  glad  to  be  with  you.' 

'  I  do  not  feel  tirfed,'  i-eplied  Briihl,  'when  I  am  in 
your  company.  From  the  first  moment  when  I  was 
m  fortunate  as  to  meet  you,  I  conceived  for  you,  my 
dear  Count,  deep  respect,  tod  permit  me  also  to  add, 
the  most  affectionate,  friendship.  Must  I  tell  you  the 
imih.  ?  .  WeU  th6n^  I  came  here  with  a  presentiment 


14  Count  Briihl 

— with  a  hope — that  I  might  have  the  pleasure  of 
seeing  you/ 

The  Count  looked  into  Briihl' s  face,  which  was 
beaming  with  joy. 

*  I  can  assure  you,'  said  he,  *  that  I  am  not  ungrate- 
ful. In  the  court  such  disinterested  friendship  is 
rare,  and  if  we  help  each  other,  we  can  rise  to  high 
appointments.' 

Their  eyes  met,  Briihl  nodded. 

*  The  King  is  fond  of  you.' 

*  Do  you  think  so  ?  '  asked  Briihl,  modestly. 

*  I  can  assure  you  of  it ;  I  have  heard  it  from  his 
Majesty's  own  lips ;  he  praised  your  zeal  and  intelli- 
gence. As  for  me,  the  Prince  loves  me,  and  I  can 
say  with  pride  that  he  calls  me  his  friend.  I  doubt 
if  he  could  get  along  without  me.' 

*  Yes,'  said  Briihl  with  animation,  *you  were  so 
fortunate  as  to  be  the  Prince's  companion,  from  the 
time  he  was  a  mere  boy,  and  you  have  had  time  to 
win  his  heart;  and  who  would  not  love  you  if  he 
knew  you  well?  As  for  me,  I  am  a  stranger  here, 
though  I  am  thankful  to  the  Princess  for  placing  me 
at  the  King's  court.  I  try  to  show  my  gratitude,  but 
the  parquetry  of  a  court  is  very  slippery.  The 
more  zeal  I  show  for  the  lord,  whom  I  respect  and 
love,  the  more  jealousy  I  excite.  For  every  smile 
bestowed  on  me  by  the  lord,  I  am  repaid  with  the 
venom  of  envy.  So  one  must  tremble  when  one 
might  be  the  happiest  of  mortals.' 

Sulkowski  listened  with  an  air  of  distraction. 

*Yes!  That's  true,'  he  rejoined  quietly.  'But 
you  have  much  in  your  favour  and  no  reason  to 
fear.  1  observe  that  you  have  adopted  an  excellent 
method :  you  are  modest  and  patient.    The  principal 


Count  Briihl  15 

thing  at  court  is  to  remain  passive,   then  you  will 
advance  ;  he  who  is  restless  soon  falls.' 
;    '  Your  advice  is  most  precious,'  exclaimed  Bruhl. 
'  I  am  indeed  fortunate  to  have  such  an  adviser.' 

The  Count  seemed  flattered  at  the  exclamation,  he 
smiled  proudly,  pleased  at  the  acknowledgment  of 
his  own  powers  of  which  he  was  fully  persuaded. 

'Don't  be  afraid,  Briihl,'  he  said.  'Go  forward 
boldly  and  count  on  me.' 

Those  words  seemed  to  arouse  Briihl's  enthusiasm, 
he  clasped  his  hands  as  though  in  prayer,  and  his 
face  was  radiant ;  then  he  extended  a  hand  to 
Sulkowski  in  token  of  his  gratitude.  The  Count 
magnanimously  took  it  with  the  condescending  air 
of  a  benefactor. 

At  that  moment  the  trumpet  resoiinded  from  the 
castle ;  the  sound  must  have  •  meant  something  to 
the  young  favourite,  for  signing  to  his  friend  that 
he  must  hasten,  he  ran  towards  the  castle. 

Briihl  remained  alone,  hesitating  as  to  what  he 
should  do  with  himself.  The  King  had  granted 
him  leave  for  the  evening,  consequently  he  was 
entirely  free.  Supper  had  begun  beneath  the  tents. 
At  first  he  had  intended  to  go  there  and  enjoy 
himself  with  the  others,  but  after  looking  on  for  a 
moment,  he  turned  into  a  side  path,  and  walked 
slowly  and  thoughtfully  to  the  forest.  Probably  he 
wished  to  be  alone  with  his  thoughts,  although  his 
youthful  eyes  were  not  suggestive  of  deep  speculation. 
It  might  be  nearer  truth  to  think  that  in  a  court 
full  of  love  intrigues,  he  too  had  some  love  affair ; 
but  on  his  serene  face  no  trace  of  such  trouble  could 
be  detected.  Briihl  did  not  sigh,  his  look  was  cold 
and  calm,  he  frowned,  and  appeared  rather  to  be 


16  Count    Briihl 

calculating   something,    than   struggling  against  a 
X:)articular  sentiment. 

He  passed  tents,  horses,  and  packs  of  hounds; 
he  passed  the  fires,  built  up  by  the  people  assembled 
for  the  hunt,  who  were  eating  the  black  bread 
they  had  brought  with  them  in  their  bags,  whilst 
venison  was  roasting  for  the  nobles.  The  great 
majority  of  these  were  Slavs,  called  Wends,  and 
they  chatted  quietly  together  in  a  tongue  incom- 
prehensible to  the  Germans.  Several  huntsmen 
kept  guard  over  them,  and  whilst  supper  was 
prepared  for  the  hounds,  no  one  took  the  least 
trouble  to  ask  these  people  if  they  had  had  anything 
to  eat.  Their  supper  of  bread  and  water  was  soon 
finished,  and  they  lay  down  on  the  grass  to  rest, 
that  they  might  be  in  readiness  for  the  work  of  the 
morrow. 

Scarcely  glancing  at  them,  Briihl  walked '^quietly 
forward.  It  was  a  lovely  evening,  peaceful  and 
bright,  and  had  it  not  been  for  the  [yellow  leaves 
falling  from  the  beech-trees,  one  might  have  thought 
it  was  summer. 

.  Beyond  the  grove  in  which  they  were  encamped 
all  was  still ;  the  noise  scarcely  penetrated  thither ; 
trees  concealed  the  castle  ;  one  could  have  imagined 
oneself  far  from  the  haunts  of  man. 

Arrived  here  Briihl  raised  his  head,  and  breathed 
more  freely  ;  his  face  assumed  a  different  expression  ; 
it  lost  its  childish  charm,  and  an  ironical  smile 
flitted  across  it.  He  thought  he  was  alone,  and 
was  greatly  surprised,  almost  frightened,  at  seeing 
two  men  lying  beneath  an  enormous  beech-tree. 
He  retreated,  and  looked  at  them  attentively.  Those 
two  men,  lying  beneath    a   tree  not  far  from   the- 


Count  Briihl  17 

King's  camp,  appeared  to  liim  suspicious  characters. 
Beside  them  lay  their  travelling  bags  and  sticks. 

The  dusk  prevented  him  from  seeing  their  faces 
very  clearly,  or-  noticing  what  clothes  they  wore, 
but  after  awhile  Bruhl  was  able  to  distinguish 
that  they  were  young  men. 

What  could  they  have  been  doing  so  close  to  the 
King  ?  Curiosity,  fear  and  suspicion,  kept  him  rooted 
to  the  spot.  He  wondered  whether  it  would  not  be 
right  to  return  to  the  the  tents  and  give  warning  of 
the  presence  of  two  suspicious  strangers.  He  changed 
his  mind  however,  and  drawn  more  by  instinct  than 
reason,  moved  forward,  and  approached  so  near  to  the 
strangers  that  they  could  see  him.  His  appearance  must 
have  astonished  them,  for  one  of  them  rose  hastily, 
and  seemed  about  to  ask  what  he  was  doing  there. 

Without  waiting  for  this  question,  Briihl  advanced 
a  few  steps  further,  and  asked  severely : 

*  What  are  you  doing  here  ? ' 

'We  are  resting,'  replied  the  man.  'Is  it  for- 
bidden here  for  travellers  to  rest  ?  ' 

The  voice  was  mild,  and  the  speech  indicated  an 
educated  man. 

'  The  King's  court  and  his  Majesty  in  person  are 
not  far  distant,'  said  Briihl. 

'  Are  we  in  the  way  ? '  asked  the  stranger,  who 
did  not  appear  to  be  in  the  least  alarmed. 

'No,'  answered  Briihl  with  animation,  'but  if 
you  were  noticed  here,  you  might  be  suspected  of 
evil  designs.' 

The  man  who  remained  seated  laughed  and  rose, 
and  when  he  came  out  from  beneath  the  shadow  of 
the  trees,  Briihl  beheld  a  good-looking  man,  with 
long  hair  and  a  noble  mien.     By  his  dress  he  was 

B 


18  Count  Bruhl 

easily  to  be  recognised  as  a  'student  from  one  of  the 
German  universities. 

'  What  are  j^ou  doing  here  ?  '  Briihl  repeated. 

*  We  are  wandering  about  that  we  may  thank  God 
by  admiring  nature  and  breathing  the  air  of  the 
forest,  and  that  in  this  quiet  we  may  lull  our  souls 
to  prayer,'  the  youth  said  slowly.  *  Night  surprised 
us  here  ;  we  should  not  have  known  of  the  presence 
of  the  King  and  his  court,  had  it  not  been  for  the 
noise  of  the  huntsmen.' 

The  words  as  well  as  the  way  they  were  pronounced 
Struck  Briihl.  The  man  seemed  to  be  from  another 
world. 

'Permit  me,  sir,'  the  student  continued  quietly, 
'  to  introduce  myself  to  you  who  seem  to  have  some 
official  position.  I  am  Nicolaus  Louis,  Count  and  Lord 
of  Zinzendorf  and  Pottendorf,  at  present  studiosus, 
searching  for  the  source  of  wisdom  and  light,  a  traveller, 
who  has  lost  his  way  in  the  maze  of  this  world.' 

On  hearing  the  name,  Briihl  looked  at  the  stranger 
more  attentively.  The  moon  lit  up  the  beautiful  face 
of  the  student.  They  both  remained  silent  for  a  time, 
as  though  not  knowing  what  to  say. 

'  I  am  Henry  Briihl,  his  Majesty's  page.' 

Zinzendorf  measured  him  with  his  eyes. 

'  I  pity  you  very  much,'  he  said  sighing. 

'  Why  ?  '  asked  the  astonished  page. 

*  Because  to  be  courtier  means  to  be  a  slave,  to  be 
a  page  means  to  be  a  servant,  and  although  I  respect 
the  King,  I  prefer  to  serve  the  King  of  Heaven,  to 
love  Jesus  Christ,  our  Saviour.  You  found  us  when 
we  were  praying,  when  we  were  trying  to  unite  our 
thoughts  with  our  Lord,  who  has  saved  us  through 
His  blood.' 


Count   Briihl  19 

Briihl  was  so  astonished  that  he  moved  away  from 
the  youth,  who  went  on  pathetically,  though 
sweetly : 

'  I  know  that  to  you,  in  whose  ears  the  prattle 
and  laughter  of  the  court  still  ring,  this  must  seem 
strange  and  perchance  irreverent,  but  I  consider  it 
my  duty,  every  time  I  have  an  opportunity,  to  speak 
as  a  Christian  should.' 

Briihl  remained  silent.  Zinzendorf  approached  him. 

*  It  is  the  hour  of  prayer  ....  listen,  the  forest 
rustles,  glory  to  God  on  high  !  The  brook  whispers 
the  prayer,  the  moon  shines  forth  to  light  the  prayer 
of  nature,  why  then  should  not  our  hearts  unite  with 
our  Saviour  at  this  solemn  moment  ? ' 

The  astonished  page  listened,  and  appeared  not  to 
understand. 

*You  behold  an  odd,  whimsical  fellow,'  said 
Zinzendorf,  *but  you  meet  many  odd,  whimsical 
society  men,  and  you  forgive  their  fancies  ;  can  you 
not  then  have  some  indulgence  for  an  enthusiasm 
arising  from  the  pure  source  of  the  soul  ?  ' 

'  Yes,'  murmured  Briihl.  '  I  am  pious  myself, 
but—' 

'  But  you  keep  your  piety  hidden  in  the  secret 
places  of  your  heart,  fearing  to  show  it  to  profane 
persons.  As  for  me,  I  show  it  forth  like  a  flag, 
because  I  am  ready  to  defend  it  with  my  life  and  my 
blood.  Brother  in  Christ,  if  the  life  of  the  court 
weigh  heavily  on  you,  for  I  cannot  otherwise  explain 
your  solitary  evening  wandering,  sit  with  us,  and  let 
us  pray  together.  I  feel  the  need  of  prayer,  and 
when  it  is  made  stronger  by  two  or  three  praying 
together,  it  might  reach  the  throne  of  Him  who  gave 
His  blood  for  us  worms.' 


20  Count  Briihl 

Briilil  moved  away,  as  though  afraid  the  strangers 
would  detain  him. 

'I  am  accustomed  to  pray  alone/  he  replied, 
*  besides  my  duties  call  me,  you  must  therefore 
excuse  me.' 

He  made  a  gesture  in  the  direction  whence  noise 
could  be  heard. 

'  I  pity  you,'  exclaimed  Zinzendorf .  '  If  we  could 
only  sing  a  prayer — ' 

The  page  interrupted  him  :  '  The  grand  huntsman, 
or  some  chamberlain  might  hear  us,  and  order  us  to 
be  put  in  prison,  not  here,  for  there  is  no  prison 
here,  but  we  should  be  taken  to  Dresden,  and  put  in 
the  Frauenkirche  guardhouse.' 

He  shrugged  his  shoulders  as  he  spoke,  bowed 
lightly,  and  would  have  departed,  had  not  Zinzendorf 
barred  his  way. 

'  Is  it  true,  that  it  is  forbidden  to  be  here  ?  '  he 
asked. 

'  Your  presence  might  bring  suspicion  on  you,  and 
cause  you  some  trouble.  I  advise  you  to  be  off. 
Beyond  Hubertsburg  there  is  an  inn,  where  you 
would  be  more  comfortable  than  beneath  this  tree.' 

'  Which  road  shall  w^e  take,  so  that  we  may  not  be 
in  the  way  of  his  Majesty  ?  '  asked  Zinzendorf. 

Briihl  pointed  with  his  hand,  and  said  : 

*  It  would  be  difficult  for  you  to  find  the  highway 
but  if  you  will  accept  me  as  your  guide,  I  am  at  your 
service.' 

Zinzendorf  and  his  companion  picked  up  their 
sticks  and  bags,  and  followed  Briihl,  who  seemed  by 
no  means  pleased  at  the  meeting.  Zinzendorf  had 
had  time  to  cool  down  from  the  state  of  enthusiasm 
in  which  the  page  had  found  him.     It  was  evident 


Count  Briihl  21 

that  lie  was  a  man  accustomed  to  the  best  society,  for 
he  had  excellent  manners.  Having  growTi  more  calm, 
he  endeavoured  to  excuse  himself  for  the  speech  he 
had  made. 

'Do  not  be  surprised,'  said  he  calmly,  'we  call 
ourselves  Christians  but  in  reality  we  are  heathens, 
despite  the  promise  we  made  at  our  baptism.  I 
consider  it  the  duty  of  every  Christian  to  preach. 
The  aim  of  my  life  is  not  only  to  preach,  but  also  to 
set  a  good  example.  What  is  the  use  of  preaching, 
if  deeds  do  not  follow  our  words?  Catholics  and 
Protestants,  we  are  all  heathens  in  our  way  of  living. 
We  do  not  worship  gods,  but  we  make  sacrifices 
to  them.  A  few  priests  quarrel  about  dogmas,  but 
our  Saviour's  blood  is  wasted,  for  people  do  not  wish 
to  be  saved.' 

He  sighed.  At  that  moment  they  came  in  sight 
of  the  camp,  where  drinking  was  at  its  height. 
Zinzendorf  looked  towards  it,  and  exclaimed  : 

'  This  is  a  veritable  bacchanalia  !  It  seems  to  me, 
that  I  hear  evoe  !  Let  us  hasten  !  I  have  no  desire 
to  hear  and  see  Christians  enjoying  themselves  in  so 
heathenish  a  way.' 

Briihl  made  no  reply.  They  passed  by  the  camp, 
and  soon  reached  the  highway.  Having  pointed  out 
the  road  to  the  student,  he  ran  quickly  to  the  lighted 
tent. 

Zinzendorf  s  words  were  still  resounding  in  his 
ears  when  he  perceived  a  strange  sight  in  the  tent. 
It  is  true,  that  in  those  times  it  was  nothing  sur- 
prising, but  very  few  people  made  such  an  exhibition 
of  themselves  in  public,  as  did  the  militar>^  councillor 
Pauli  that  evening.  He  was  lying  on  the  ground  in 
the    centre  of  the  tent ;  i  beside  him  there  stood  a 


22  Count  Briihl 

large,  empty,  big-bellied  bottle  ;  his  face  was  crimson ; 
his  dress  unbuttoned  and  torn ;  while  beside  him 
sat  a  hound,  evidently  his  favourite,  licking  his  face 
and  whining. 

Those  who  stood  around  were  splitting  their  sides 
with  laughter. 

It  was  no  unusual  thing  for  the  military  councillor 
Pauli,  whose  duty  it  was  to  be  near  the  King  ready 
to  write  his  letters,  to  be  thus  overcome  with  wine, 
but  never  was  he  so  drunk  or  so  much  laughed  at  as 
on  that  night. 

As  soon  as  Briihl  noticed  it,  he  rushed  to  the 
unfortunate  man  and  lifted  him  from  the  ground. 
The  others,  having  come  to  their  senses,  helped  him, 
and  with  a  great  effort  they  put  the  councillor  on  a 
heap  of  hay  lying  in  the  corner  of  the  tent.  Pauli 
opened  his  eyes,  looked  at  the  surrounding  faces, 
and  mumbled  : 

'  Briihl,  thank  you — I  know  everything,  I  under- 
stand, I  am  not  drunk — ^You  are  a  good  boy,  Briihl, 
I  thank  you.' 

Then  he  closed  his  eyes,  sighed  and  muttered, 
'  Hard  service  ! '  and  fell  asleep. 


CHAPTER  II 

The  pages  of  Augustus  II  had  rooms  in  the  King's 
castle,  where  they  awaited  their  orders  during  the 
time  they  were  on  duty.  Their  horses  were  always 
in  readiness  in  case  they  might  be  sent  on  some 
errand.  They  relieved  each  other  by  turns  at  the 
door  and  attended  the  King  in  the  antechamber, 
and  often,  when  no  other  messenger  was  at  hand, 
were  sent  to  carry  orders  and  despatches.  Briihl 
always  performed  this  arduous  service  with  great  zeal 
when  his  turn  came,  and  even  willingly  took  the 
place  of  others,  so  that  the  King,  seeing  him 
frequently,  grew  accustomed  to  his  face  and 
services. 

'  Briihl,  you  are  again  here,'  he  would  say  smiling. 

'  At  your  Majesty's  command.' 

'  Are  you  not  tired  ?  ' 

*My  greatest  happiness  is  to  look  at  your 
Majesty.'  And  the  boy  would  bow,  and  the  King 
would  clap  him  on  the  shoulder. 

Never  was  anything  either  impossible  or  too 
difficult  for  him  ;  he  ran  immediately  and  fulfilled 
his  orders  at  once. 

They  were  waiting  one  day  for  the  courier.  In 
those  days  the  post  was  often  late ;  a  horse  would 
die  on  the  road,  or  a  river  overflow,  or  a  postillion 
become  sick,  and  in  consequence  there  was  no  fixed 
hour  for  the  arrival  of  the  post.  Ever  since  the 
morning   the   military   councillor  Pauli,   who   used 


24  Count  Briihl 

to  write  the  King's  letters,  had  been  waiting  for 
his  orders. 

Pauli,  whom  we  saw  drunk  in  Hubertsburg,  slept 
during  the  night,  rose  in  the  morning,  dressed 
himself  and  felt  quite  well  except  that  he  was  still 
very  thirsty. 

He  was  aware  that  nature  had  provided  water  for 
him  to  drink,  but  he  despised  the  simple  beverage 
and  used  to  say  God  created  it  for  geese  and  not 
for  men.  Consequently  he  quenched  his  thirst  with 
wine  ;  he  felt  better  and  more  lively. 

He  remembered  that  Briihl  had  come  to  his 
assistance  in  that  awful  moment  of  drunkenness, 
and  from  that  moment  a  friendship  sprang  up 
between  old  Pauli  and  the  young  page. 

Briihl,  who  did  not  despise  anybody's  favour, 
became  attached  to  the  councillor.  Pauli  was  an 
elderly  man,  prematurely  aged  by  his  intemperate 
habits  :  he  was  very  fat  and  could  hardly  walk,  and, 
after  dinner,  would  even  dose  standing  up.  Pauli's 
face  was  red,  verging  to  purple,  and  his  whole  body 
seemed  to  be  swollen. 

But  when  he  dressed  in  his  best  for  the  court, 
when  he  buttoned  up,  pulled  himself  together  and 
assumed  his  official  demeanour,  one  really  could 
take  him  for  a  respectable  person.  He  was  so 
accustomed  to  the  King  and  the  King  to  him,  that 
from  one  word,  or  even  a  look  from  Augustus,  he 
could  spin  out  whole  letters,  guessing  the  thought, 
grasping  the  style,  and  the  King  never  needed  to 
make  any  corrections.  For  this  reason  he  was  fond 
of  Pauli,  and  requisitioned  his  services  continually ; 
for  this  reason  too,  he  forgave  him  when  he  got  drunk 
and  was  incapacitated  from  fulfilling  his  duties. 


Count  Briihl        .       25 

Then  the  lackeys  were  obliged  to  wake  him  up 
and  the  councillor  would  open  his  eyes,  and  murmur, 
'  Wait  a  minute  !  I  am  ready  ! '  though  he  did  not 
rise  till  he  became  sober.  Then  he  would  rise,  wash 
himself  with  cold  water,  drink  a  big  glass  of  strong 
wine,  and  go  to  the  King. 

Such  things  used  to  happen  in  those  days,  not  to 
Pauli  alone  ;  the  King's  friend  Fleming  used  to 
get  drunk  and  many  others  too.  People  merely 
laughed  at  a  drunken  man  for  having  so  weak  a 
hea(J. 

That  day  when  they  were  waiting  for  the  courier  ^ 
Pauli  was  sitting  in  the  marshals'  room,  yawning. 
He  selected  a  comfortable  chair,  stretched  his  legs, 
drooped  his  head  a  little  and  fell  a-thinking.  He 
could  not  dose.  Who  could  travel  with  Morpheus 
into  the  country  of  dreams,  not  being  prepared 
with  good  food  for  the  journey  ? 

The  pictures  that  hung  in  the  room  were  too 
familiar  to  his  gaze  to  interest  him.  He  could  not 
look  at  them,  so  he  yawned  again,  this  time  so 
outrageously  that  his  jaws  cracked.  It  was  a  heart- 
rending sight  to  see  such  a  respectable  councillor 
yawn  because  he  had  nothing  to  eat. 

The  clock  struck  ten,  then  eleven,  and  still  Pauli 
sat  yawning  and  trembling  on  account  of  the  empti- 
ness of  his  stomach.  At  that  moment  he  felt  the 
most  miserable  of  men. 

At  eleven  o'clock  Briihl,  who  was  waiting  for  the 
hour  of  his  service,  entered.  He  was  lovely  in  his 
page's  dress,  worn  with  great  elegance  ;  nobody  could 
rival  him  in  the  freshness  of  the  lace  on  his  cuffs,  the 
cut  of  his  dress,  and  his  exquisitely  combed  wig.  As 
usual,  he  smiled  sweetly.     Everyone  was  conquered 


2^      n        Count  Briihl 

by  his  smiles,  his  words,  and  the  grace  of  all  his 
movements.     Pauli,  catching  sight  of  him,  put  out 
his  hand  withoy.t  rising. 
Briihl  ran  to  him  and  said  : 

*  How  happy  I  am  to  see  you ! '  And  he  bowed 
humbly. 

'  Briihl,  you  alone  can  save  me ! "  said  Pauli. 
*  Just  imagine,  I  have  not  yet  had  my  breakfast ! 
When  will  that  courier  arrive  ?  ' 

The  page  looked  at  the  clock  and  shrugged  his 
shoulders. 

*  Chi  lo  sa?  '  he  answered  in  that  language  which 
with  French,  was  then  used  at  court,  for  Italians  were 
then  quite  numerous  in  Dresden. 

*  Eleven  !  and  I  have  not  had  my  breakfast !  I 
shall  die  of  starvation ! '  Having  said  this,  Pauli 
yawned  once  more  and  shivered. 

Briihl  stood  thoughtful,  then  he  whispered  in 
Pauli 's  ear  : 

^  Est  modus  in  rebus  I  Why  do  you  sit  here  as 
though  you  were  on  a  public  road  ?  There  is  a  room 
with  a  door  opening  on  the  corridor  leading  to  the 
kitchen ;  there  I  could  manage  to  get  you  served 
with  something.' 

The  councillor's  eyes  brightened,  and  he  tried  to 
rise,  always  a  difficulty  with  him.  He  was  obliged 
to  put  both  hands  on  the  arms  of  the  chair,  and 
leaning  heavily  on  his  elbows,  at  length  succeeded. 

*  My  dear  boy,'  he  exclaimed,  '  help  me  then,  if  you 
can.' 

Briihl  nodded  and  they  disappeared  through  the 
door  of  the  next  room.  Here,  as  though  Pauli  had 
been  expected,  some  enchanted  force  had  prepared  a 
table.     There  stood  a  large  chair,  as  if  made  for  him, 


Count  Bruhl  27 

and  on  the  snow-white  table  a  soup  tureen,  a  covered 
dish  and  a  large  bottle  of  golden  wine. 

Pauli,  having  perceived  this,  hastened  to  occupy 
the  chair,  as  if  afraid  that  someone  else  might  step  in 
before  him,  seized  the  napkin  and  stretched  his  arm 
towards  the  soup  tureen ;  suddenly  he  remembered 
Briihl  and  said  : 

*  And  you  ?  ' 

The  page  shook  his  head. 

*  It's  for  you,  my  dear  sir.' 

*  May  the  gods  reward  you  for  this  ! '  exclaimed 
Pauli  enthusiastically.  'May  Venus  give  you  the 
prettiest  girl  in  Dresden ;  may  Hygiea  give  you  a 
stomach  with  which  you  can  digest  stones ;  may 
Bacchus  give  you  everlasting  thirst  and  the  means 
to  quench  it  with  Hungarian  wine  ;  may — ' 

But  the  tempting  dishes  did  not  permit  him  to 
finish.  Briihl  stood  smiling  at  the  councillor. 
Pauli  poured  out  the  first  glass  of  wine.  He  expected 
an  ordinary,  light  Hungarian  wine,  which  they 
usually  served  at  the  court,  but  when  he  tasted  it, 
his  face  brightened,  his  eyes  shone,  and  having  drunk 
he  leaned  back  in  his  chair  and  smiled. 

*  Divine  drink !  My  dear  boy,  you  are  working 
miracles !  Where  did  you  get  it  from  ?  I  know 
that  wine,  it's  King's  Tokay ;  smell  it,  taste  it — it's 
ambrosia,  nectar ! ' 

*  You  must  show  your  favour  to  the  bottle,  and  not 
leave  its  contents  to  the  profane,  who  would  drink  it 
without  proper  appreciation.' 

*  That  would  certainly  be  a  profanation,'  exclaimed 
the  councillor,  pouring  out  another  large  glass.  '  To 
your  health,  to  your  success.  Briihl — I  shall  be 
thankful  to  you  till  the  day  of  my  death — you  saved 


28  Count  Briihl 

my  life.     An  hour  longer  and  I  should  have  been  a 
dead  man  ;  I  felt  that  my  life  was  slipping  away.' 

*  I  am  very  glad,'  said  Briihl,  '  that  I  have  been 
able  to  be  of  service  to  you,  sir.     But  pray,  drink  ! ' 

Pauli  drank  another  glass,  smacked  his  lips,  and 
said  : 

*  What  a  wine !  What  a  wine !  Every  glass 
tastes  better  than  the  last.  It's  like  a  good  friend 
whom  the  more  we  know  the  better  we  love.  But, 
Briihl,  when  the  post  comes,  and  his  Majesty  calls 
me,  if  it  should  be  necessary  for  me  to  write  a  letter 
to  Berlin  or  Vienna — ' 

In  the  meanwhile  he  poured  out  the  third  glass. 

*  Such  a  small  bottle  for  you  is  nothing  ;  it  is  only 
a  stimulans.^ 

*  Briihl,  you  are  right.  I  have  drunk  more  than 
that  in  my  life.'  He  laughed.  'The  worst  thing  is 
to  mix  the  drinks.  Who  knows  in  what  relation  they 
stand  to  each  other  ?  There  might  meet  two  bitter 
foes,  for  instance,  the  French  with  German  wine ; 
they  begin  to  fight  in  the  stomach  and  head,  and  the 
man  suffers.  But  when  one  drinks  an  honest,  intelli- 
gent, matured  wine,  then  there  is  no  danger,  it  does 
no  harm.' 

Speaking  thus  the  councillor  ate  the  meat,  drank 
the  Tokay  and  smiled  again.  Briihl  stood,  looked, 
and  when  the  glass  was  empty,  he  filled  it  once 
more. 

At  length  the  food  having  all  disappeared,  there 
remained  only  the  wine. 

Pauli  sighed  and  mumbled  : 

'  But  the  letters  !  ' 

*  Would  you  be  afraid  ?  ' 

*  You  are  right,  if  I  were  afraid,  I  should  be  a 


Count   Briihl  29 

coward,  and  that  is  a  despicable  thing.  Fill  up  ! 
.  To  your  health  !  You  shall  get  on  !  It's  brighter 
in  my  head  !  It  seems  that  the  sun  has  come  out 
from  beneath  the  clouds,  for  everything  looks 
brighter.  I  feel  as  if  I  could  write  more  fluently 
than  ever ! ' 

Briihl  filled  the  glass  constantly. 

The  councillor  looked  at  the  bottle,  and  observing 
that  it  was  larger  at  the  bottom,  promised  himself 
that  the  wine  would  last  still  for  some  time. 

'  I  have  nothing  to  be  afraid  of,'  said  Pauli  as 
though  wishing  to  reassure  himself.  *  I  don't  know 
whether  you  remember  or  not.  I  remember  once  on 
a  very  warm  day,  when  his  Majesty  was  writing  to 
that  unfortunate  Cosel,  I  drank  some  treacherous 
wine.  It  tasted  as  good  as  this  Tokay,  but  it  was 
treacherous.  When  I  went  out  into  the  street  my 
head  swam.  It  was  too  bad,  for  I  was  obliged  to 
write  the  letters.  Two  courtiers  seized  my  arms — 
it  seemed  to  me  that  I  was  flying ;  they  put  me  at 
the  table,  they  put  a  pen  in  my  hand  the'  paper 
before  me ;  the  King  said  a  few  words  and  I  wrote 
an  excellent  letter.  But  if  you  killed  me  I  could  not 
remember  what  I  wrote  then.  Suffice  it  that  the 
letter  was  good,  and  the  King,  laughing,  gave  me  a 
magnificent  ring  as  a  souvenir  of  that  day.' 

The  wine  was  poured  from  the  bottle  to  the  glass, 
from  the  glass  into  the  throat.  The  councillor 
smiled. 

'Hard  service,'  he  said  quietly,  'but  the  wine  is 
excellent.' 

During  the  conversation  the  bottle  was  emptied. 
The  last  glass  was  a  little  clouded  ;  Briihl  wished  to 
push  it  aside. 


30  Count   Briihl 

*  Tyrant ! '  cried  the  councillor.  '  What  are  you 
doing  ?  It  is  the  nature  of  the  wine  to  have  dregs, 
they  are  not  to  be  wasted,  but  exist  to  hide  the  virtue 
which  is  in  it, — the  elixir,  the  essence.' 

While  Pauli  was  emptying  the  last  glass,  Briihl 
bent  forward  and  took  from  under  the  table  another 
bottle.  Seeing  it,  the  councillor  wished  to  rise,  but 
the  sight  rivetted  him  to  his  chair. 

'  What  do  I  see  ?  '  he  cried. 

'It's  another  volume,'  said  the  page  quietly,  'of 
the  work.  It  contains  its  conclusion,  its  quintessence. 
As  you  are  fond  of  literature — ' 

Pauli  bent  his  head. 

'  Who  would  not  be  fond  of  such  literature  ? ' 
sighed  he. 

' — I  have  been  trying  to  get  you  a  complete  work,' 
continued  the  bpy.  '  I  could  not  get  both  volumes 
of  the  same  edition.  The  second  volume  is  editio 
'princi'ps.^ 

'  Ah ! '  exclaimed  Pauli  approaching  the  glass. 
'  Pour  me  only  one  page  of  that  respectable  volume.' 

'  But  it  will  spoil.     You  must  finish  the  bottle.' 

'  That's  true  !  But  the  letters  !  The  letters  ! '  said 
Pauli. 

'  There  will  be  none  to-day.' 

'  Would  that  that  were  true,'  Pauli  sighed. 

Briihl  poured  out  another  glass  ;  Pauli  drank  it. 

'  This  wine  the  King  alone  drinks  when  he  doesn't 
feel  well,'  whispered  Briihl. 

'  Panaceum  universale  I  The  lips  of  a  woman  are 
not  sweeter.' 

'  Oh !  oh  ! '  exclaimed  the  youth. 

'It  is  quite  different  for  you,' said  the  coimcillor, 
'  but  for  me  they  have  lost  all  sweetness.     But  the 


Count  Bruhl  31 

wine  !  wine  is  a  nectar  which,  never  loses  its  charm. 
Were  it  not  for  these  letters  ! ' 

'  You  are  still  thinking  of  them  ?  ' 

*  Well,  let  the  deuce  take  them.' 

The  councillor  drank,  but  the  wine  was  beginning 
to  take  effect.  He  grew  heavier,  he  smiled,  and 
then  closed  his  eyes. 

*  Now  a  short  nap,'  said  he. 

'  But  you  must  finish  the  bottle,'  said  the  page. 

*Yes,  it  is  the  duty  of  an  honest  man  to  finish 
that  which  he  began,'  said  Pauli. 

Having  poured  out  the  last  glass,  Briihl  brought 
forward  a  pipe  and  tobacco. 

*  Will  you  not  smoke  ?  '  he  said. 

'  You  are  an  angel !  '  exclaimed  Pauli  opening  his 
eyes.  *You  remembered  about  that  also.  But 
suppose  this  herb  intoxicates  me  further?  What 
do  you  say  ?  ' 

*  It  will  make  you  sober,'  said  Briihl  handing  him 
the  pipe. 

*How  can  I  resist  such  a  tempting  offer!  Come 
what  may,  give  it  to  me.  Perchance  the  postillion 
will  break  his  neck,  and  will  not  come.  I  don't 
wish  him  evil,  but  I  would  prefer  that  he  stayed 
away.' 

They  both  laughed.  The  councillor  smoked 
assiduously. 

'  Very  strong  tobacco  ! ' 

*  The  King  smokes  it,'  said  the  page, 

*  But  he  is  stronger  than  I  am.' 

The  tobacco  evidently  made  him  more  intoxicated 
for  he  began  to  mumble.  He  smoked  for  a  little 
while  longer,  then  the  pipe  slipped  from  his  hand, 
his  head  dropped,  and  he  began  to  snore. 


32  Count  Briihl 

Briihl  looked  at  liim,  smiled,  went  quietly  to  the 
door,  and  disappeared  behind  it.  Then  he  ran 
straight  to  the  King's  ante-room. 

A  young,  well-dressed  boy,  of  lordly  mien,  also  in 
page's  costume,  stopped  him. 

It  was  the  Count  Anthony  Moszynski.  He  was 
distinguished  among  the  other  pages  of  the  King, 
by  his  pale  face,  black  hair,  expressive  although  not 
beautiful  features,  eyes  full  of  fire,  but  above  all  by 
his  aristocratic  bearing  and  stiff  manners.  He  was 
with  Sulkowski  at  the  Prince's  court,  then  he  passed, 
to  that  of  Augustus  II,  who,  it  was  said,  liked  his 
liveliness  and  inteUigence,  and  a  brilliant  career  was 
prophesied  for  him. 

*  Briihl,'  said  he.     '  Where  have  you  been  ?  " 
The  page  hesitated  to  answer. 

*  In  the  marshals'  room.' 

*  It  is  your  hour  now.' 

*  I  know  it,  but  I  am  not  too  late,'  he  answered, 
glancing  at  the  clock. 

*  I  thought,'  said  Moszynski  laughing,  '  that  I 
should  have  to  take  your  place.' 

Something  like  anger  flashed  across  Briihl' s  facCj 
but  it  became  serene  again  immediately. 

*  My  dear  Count,'  said  he  sweetly,  '  you  favourites 
are  permitted  not  to  be  punctual,  but  it  would  be 
unpardonable  in  me.  I  have  often  acted  as  a 
substitute  for  others,  but  no  one  has  yet  been 
substituted  for  me.' 

*  You  wish  to  imply  that  no  one  is  able  to  act  as 
substitute  for  you,'  said  Moszynski. 

'  You  are  good-humouredly  joking  at  my  simplicity. 
I  try  to  learn  that  in  which  you  lords  are  masters.' 
Moszynski  put  out  his  hand. 


Count  Briihl  33 

*  It's  dangerous  to  fight  you  with  words.     I  would 
prefer  swords.* 

Briihl  assumed  a  humble  mien. 

^I  do  not  think  I  am  superior  in  anything/  he 
said  quietly. 

'  Well,  I  wish  you  good  luck  during  your  service,' 
said  Moszynski.     '  Good-bye  ! ' 

He  left  the  room. 

Briihl  breathed  more  freely.  He  went  slowly  to  the 
window,  and  stood  there  seemingly  looking  with 
indifference  into  a  courtyard  paved  with  stones. 
Beneath  him  swarmed  a  numerous  company  of  busy 
courtiers.  Soldiers  in  magnificent  uniforms,  chamber- 
lains in  dresses  richly  embroidered  with  gold,  many 
lackeys  and  other  servants  moved  quickly  about ; 
several  post-chaises  stood  near  the  steps  and  yellow- 
dressed  carriers  waited  for  their  masters ;  further 
there  were  carriages  with  German  and  Polish  harness, 
hayduks  in  scarlet,  kozaks,  all  constituting  a  variegated 
and  picturesque  whole.  A  chamberlain  came  out 
from  the  King. 

'  The  post  has  not  yet  come  ? '  he  asked  Briihl. 
'Not  yet.' 

*  As  soon  as  it  comes,  bring  the  letters  at  once. 
Where  is  Pauli  ?  ' 

'  In  the  marshal's  room.' 

*  Very  well,  he  must  wait.' 

Briihl  bowed  and  returned  to  the  window,  looking 
through  it  impatiently  until  he  perceived,  galloping 
in  on  a  foaming  horse,  a  postillion  with  a  trumpet 
slung  across  his  shoulder,  and  a  leathern  bag  on  his 
chest. 

The  page  flew  downstairs  as  fast  as  he  could,  and 
before  the  servants  had  noticed  the  postillion,  he 
c 


34  Count   Briihl 

seized  hold  of  the  letters.  A  silver  tray  was  in 
readiness  in  the  ante-room  ;  Briihl  placed  the  letters 
on  it,  and  entered  the  King's  apartment. 

Augustus  was  walking  to  and  fro  with  the  Count 
Hoym.  Seeing  the  page,  tray,  and  letters,  he  put 
out  his  hand  and  took  the  letters  and  broke  the  seals. 

Briihl  waited,  while  the  King  and  Hoym  read  the 
letters. 

'  Ah ! '  exclaimed  Augustus.  '  Be  quick,  and  call 
Pauli; 

Briihl  did  not  move. 

*  Go  and  call  Pauli  to  me,'  repeated  the  King 
impatiently. 

The  page  bowed,  rushed  out  of  the  room  and  looked 
into  the  marshal's  room.  Pauli  was  sleeping  like  a 
log.     Briihl  returned  to  the  King. 

"  Your  Majesty  ! '  stammered  Briihl.  '  Councillor 
Pauli—' 

*  Is  he  here  ?  ' 

*  Yes,  your  Majesty.' 

*  Then  why  doesn't  he  come  ? ' 

*  The  councillor,'  said  the  page,  dropping  his  eyes, 
*  is  not  well.' 

*  Were  he  dying,  you  must  bring  him  here,'  cried 
the  King.  *Let  him  fulfil  his  duties,  then  he  can 
die  if  he  wishes  to  do  so.' 

Briihl  ran  out  again,  and  entering  the  room,  looked 
at  the  sleeping  man,  then  returned  to  the  King. 
Augustus'  eyes  burned  with  increasing  anger,  he 
began  to  grow  pale,  which  was  the  worst  sign  ;  when 
he  became  white  people  trembled. 

Briihl  stopped  at  the  door,  silent. 

'  Pauli ! '  cried  the  King,  rapping  the  floor  with 
his  foot. 


Count   Briihl  35 

'  The  councillor  is — ' 

'  Drunk  ?  '  Augustus  guessed.  '  Ah,  the  dirty  old 
pig  !  Why  could  he  not  abstain  for  these  few  hours  ? 
Pour  water  on  him  !  Conduct  him  to  the  f  pun  tain  ! 
Let  the  doctor  give  him  some  medicine  and  make 
him  sober  if  but  for  one  hour.  Then  the  beast 
might  die ! ' 

Briihl  promptly  obeyed.  He  tried  to  wake  up  the 
councillor,  but  he  was  lying  like  a  log;  the  only 
doctor  who  could  bring  him  to  his  senses  was  time. 
Briihl,  coming  back  slowly,  seemed  to  hesitate,  as 
though  pondering  something  in  his  mind.  He 
entered  the  King's  room  as  noiselessly  as  he  could. 

The  King  stood  in  the  centre  holding  the  papers 
in  his  hand  ;  his  brows  were  contracted. 

^Pauli!' 

'  It  is  impossible  to  awaken  him.' 

'  I  wish  he  would  die !  But  the  letters  !  Who 
will  write  them  ?     Do  you  hear  ?  ' 

'Your  Majesty,'  said  Briihl  humbly,  'my  daring 
is  great,  almost  criminal,  but  my  love  for  your 
Majesty  must  be  my  excuse.  One  word  from  your 
Majesty — a  small  indication — and  I  will  try  to  write 
the  letters — ' 

'  You,  youngster  ?  ' 

Briihl  blushed. 

'  Your  Majesty  shall  punish  me — ' 

Augustus  looked  at  him  penetratingly. 

'  Come,'  said  he  going  to  the  window.  '  There  is 
the  letter ;  read  it,  and  give  a  negative  answer,  but 
you  must  hint  that  the  answer  is  not  definite.  Let 
them  think  that  there  is  some  hope,  but  do  not 
actually  show  it.     Do  you  understand  ?  ' 

Briihl  bowed  and  wished  to  go  out  with  the  letter. 


36 


Count   Briihl 


*  Where  are  you  going  ?  '  cried  the  King.  '  Sit  at 
this  table  and  write  at  once.' 

The  page  bowed  again  and  sat  on  the  edge  of  the 
chair  which  was  upholstered  in  silk  ;  he  turned  up 
his  lace  cuffs,  bent  over  the  paper  and  wrote  with  a 
rapidity  that  astonished  the  King. 

Augustus  II  looked  attentively,  as  though  at  a 
curious  phenomenon,  at  the  good-looking  boy,  who 
assumed  the  gravity  of  a  chancellor  and  wrote  the 
diplomatic  letter  as  easily  as  he  would  have  written 
a  love-letter. 

One  might  have  thought,  that  the  page,  in  accom- 
plishing a  task  so  important  to  his  future,  had 
forgotten  about  his  pose. 

Apparently  he  sat  negligently  and  thoughtlessly, 
but  the  fact  was,  that  as  he  bent  gracefully  to  his 
work,  the  position  of  his  legs,  arms  and  head,  was 
all  carefully  studied.  His  composure  did  not  leave 
him  for  a  moment  though  the  work  was  apparently 
done  in  feverish  haste.  The  King  watched  him 
closely  and  seemed  to  guess  his  intention.  The  page 
without  thinking  or  losing  time,  .wrote  as  if  by 
dictation,  he  did  not  erase  a  single  word,  he  did  not 
stop  for  a  moment.  The  pen  stopped  only  when  the 
letter  was  finished.  Then  he  read  it  through  and 
rose. 

The  King  evidently  curious  and  wishing  to  be 
indulgent  came  nearer. 

'  Read  ! '  said  he. 

Briihl's  voice  trembled  and  was  faint.  Who  would 
have  thought  that  that  fear  was  simulated  ?  The 
King  encouraging  the  boy,  said  kindly  : 

^  Slowly,  distinctly,  aloud  ! ' 

The  young  page  then  began  to  read  and  his  voice, 


Count   Briihl  37 

which  was  at  first  faint,  became  sonorous.  The  face 
of  Augustus  depicted  by  turn  surprise,  joy,  hilarity, 
and  bewilderment. 

When  Briihl  finished  he  did  not  dare  to  raise  his 
eyes. 

*  Once  more  from  the  beginning,'  said  the  King. 

This  time  Briihl  read  more  distinctly  and  more 
boldly. 

The  King's  face  became  radiant ;  he  clapped  his 
hands. 

'  Excellent ! '  cried  he.  '  Pauli  could  not  do  better, 
not  even  so  well.     Copy  it.' 

Briihl  bowing  humbly  presented  the  letter  to  the 
King,  which  was  so  well  written  that  it  was  not 
necessary  to  cop}^  it. 

Augustus  clapped  him  on  the  shoulder. 

'  From  to-day,  you  are  my  secretary.  I  will  have 
no  more  to  do  with  Pauli ;  may  the  deuce  take  him  ! 
Let  him  drink  and  die ! ' 

The  King  rang  the  bell,  a  chamberlain  entered. 

'  Count,'  said  Augustus,  '  give  orders  that  Pauli  is 
to  be  carried  home ;  when  he  becomes  sober  express 
to  him  my  great  displeasure.  I  never  wish  to  see 
him  again !  Briihl  is  my  secretary  from  to-day. 
Discharge  him  from  his  duties  as  a  page.' 

The  chamberlain  smiled  at  the  boy  standing 
modestly  aside. 

'He  saved  me  from  a  great  trouble,'  said  the  King. 
'  I  know  Pauli,  he  will  be  drunk  till  to-morrow,  and 
it  was  necessary  to  send  the  letter  at  once.' 

The  King  went  to  the  table  to  sign  the  letter. 

'Make  a  copy  of  it,'  said  he. 

'  I  will  copy  it  from  memory,'  said  Briihl  quietly. 

'  What  a  keen  secretary  I  have  now !  '  exclaimed 


38  Count   Briihl 

Augustus.     *  Pray  give  orders  that  he  is  to  be  paid 
the  three  hundred  thalers.' 

When  Briihl  approached  to  thank  him,  the  King 
put  out  his  hand  to  be  kissed,  an  especial  sign  of 
favour. 

A  moment  later  a  courier,  having  taken  the  sealed 
letter,  conveyed  it  away  at  a  gallop,  blowing  his 
trumpet.  Briihl  slipped  out  into  the  ante-room. 
Here  the  story  of  the  letter  and  his  unexpected  pro- 
motion, told  by  the  chamberlain  Frisen,  aroused 
curiosity  and  envy.  When  Briihl  appeared  all  eyes 
turned  to  him,  but  in  the  new  favourite  of  the  King, 
one  could  see  no  trace  of  pride — on  the  contrary,  he 
was  as  humble  as  if  he  were  ashamed  of  his  deed. 

Moszynski  rushed  to  him. 

'  What  do  I  hear  ? '  he  exclaimed.  '  Briihl  his 
Majesty's  amanuensis  ?     When  ?     How  ? ' 

'Let  me  come  to  myself  from  fear  and  astonish- 
ment,' said  Briihl  quietly.  *  I  do  not  know  how  it 
happened.  Providence  watched  over  me,  un  pauvre 
cadet  de  famille.  My  love  for  the  King  worked  a 
miracle.     I  am  dazed.' 

Moszynski  looked  at  him. 

*  If  your  good  luck  continues,  you  will  soon  be 
ahead  of  us  all.  We  must  recommend  ourselves  to 
your  favour.' 

'  Count,  be  merciful,  and  do  not  mock  a  poor  boy 
like  me.' 

Saying  this,  Briihl,  as  if  he  were  tired,  wiped 
the  perspiration  from  his  forehead  and  sat  on  the 
nearest  chair. 

'  One  would  think,'  said  Moszynski,  '  that  he  had 
met  with  the  greatest  misfortune.' 

This  was  lost  on  Briihl,  for  he  was  deep  in  thought. 


Count   Briihl  39 

All  in  tlie  room  dropped  their  voices  to  a  whisper 
as  they  told  the  story  of  the  lucky  boy  to  those  who 
came  in.  The  news  spread  in  the  town  and  when 
in  the  evening  Briihl  appeared  in  the  theatre  among 
the?  pages,  Snlkowski,  who  attended  the  Prince,  came 
to  congratulate  him. 

Briihl  seemed  to  be  very  grateful  and  could  not 
find  words  to  thank  him  for  his  kiildness. 

*  Do  you  see,  Briihl,'  whispered  Sulkowski,  looking 
upon  him  protectingly,  '  I  told  you  that  they  would 
appreciate  you  at  your  right  value.  I  was  not 
mistaken  in  thinking  that  our  lord's  eagle  eye  had 
singled  you  out  in  the  crowd.' 

They  applauded  the  singer ;  Sulkowski  also 
clapped  his  hands,  but  turning  to  his  friend  he 
said : 

'  I  applaud  you.' 

The  page  bowed  humbly,  blushing. 

After  the  end  of  the  play  he  had  a  chance  of  dis- 
appearing, and  the  friends  who  looked  for  him  in  the 
castle  and  in  his  rooms  could  not  find  him.  They 
thought  it  was  his  modesty ;  it  was  nice  of  him  not 
to  boast  of  his  good  fortune.  On  enquiry  his 
servant  told  them  that  he  had  gone  out. 

The  fact  was,  that  after  the  opera  Briihl  stole 
into  the  Castle  street  and  from  it  he  went  towards 
Taschenberg,  where  Cosel  formerly  lived,  and  which 
was  now  occupied  by  a  daughter  of  the  Emperor 
of  Austria,  Josepha. 

Those  who  met  him  might  have  suspected  that 
he  was  going  to  deposit  his  laurels  at  the  feet  of 
some  goddess.  It  was  very  probable.  He  was 
twenty  years  of  age,  he  was  very  good-looking, 
and   the  women,   spoiled   by  Augustus,    were   very 


40  Count  Briihl 

coquettish.  It  was  evident  that  he  was  anxious  not 
to  be  seen  or  recognised,  for  his  face  was  wrapped 
in  his  mantle  and  every  time  he  heard  steps  he 
hastened  his  own. 

He  entered  the  house  next  to  the  princess's  palace, 
ran  up  the  stairs,  and  knocked  three  times  at  the 
door. 

There  was  no  answer.  Having  waited  a  little 
while,  he  knocked  again  in  the  same  way. 

Slow  steps  were  heard  within,  the  door  opened 
a  little,  and  the  head  of  an  old  man  appeared.  Briihl 
slipped  in  quickly. 

The  room  into  which  he  entered,  lighted  by  one 
candle  held  by  the  servant  standing  at  the  door, 
was  full  of  bookshelves  and  somewhat  gloomy. 
The  old  servant,  questioned  in  whispers,  pointed  to 
the  door  in  lieu  of  an  answer.  Briihl  threw  off  his 
cloak  and  going  on  tip-toe  approached  the  door  at 
which  he  knocked  softly. 

*  Favor isca ! ' 

The  large  room  into  which  the  page  now  entered 
was  lighted  by  two  candles  under  green  shades. 
There  were  several  tables  loaded  with  books,  between 
two  windows  there  was  a  large  crucifix,  on  the  sofa 
a  guitar  was  lying. 

At  the  table  leaning  on  one  hand,  stood  an  elderly, 
slightly  bent  man  :  his  face  was  yellowish,  bony  ; 
he  wore  a  long  beard  ;  his  eyes  were  black.  By  his 
features  it  was  easy  to  recognise  an  Italian.  There 
was  something  enigmatical  about  his  thin,  pale  lips, 
but  the  whole  face  was  rather  jovial  than  mysterious. 
There  was  something  ironical  as  well  as  kindly  in 
it.     A  large  hooked  nose  almost  covered  his  lower  lip. 

On  his  closely-shaven  hair  he  wore  a  black  silk 


Count   Briihl  4i 

cap  ;  his  dress  was  long  and  dark  ;  it  indicated  a 
priest. 

He  welcomed  Briihl  with  outstretched  arms. 

'  Ah !  it's  you,  my  dear  boy  !  How  glad  I  am  to 
see  you.' 

The  youth  bent  humbly  and  kissed  his  hand. 

The  host  seated  himself  on  the  sofa,  at  the  same 
time  pointing  to  a  chair  for  Briihl,  who  sat  down, 
still  holding  his  hat. 

'Ecco!  Ecco!'  whispered  the  old  man.  'You 
think  you  bring  me  news,  but  I  already  know  about 
it.  I  am  truly  delighted.  You  see  Providence 
rewards,  God  helps  those  who  worship  Him.' 

'  I  am  thankful  to  Him,'  said  Briihl  quietly. 

'  Remain  faithful  to  the  creed  to  which  you  have 
opened  your  heart,  and  you  shall  see.'  He  raised  his 
hand.  '  You  shall  go  far,  far.  I  am  telling  you  that. 
I  am  poor  and  humble,  but  I  am  the  Lord's  servant.' 

He  looked  at  the  humble  page,  and  having  accom- 
plished his  pious  duty,  added  joyfully : 

'  Have  you  been  to  the  opera  ?  How  did  Celesta 
sing  ?  Did  the  King  look  at  her  ?  Was  the  Prince 
there  ? ' 

Padre  Guarini  was  the  name  of  the  man  to  whom 
Briihl  paid  this  visit  ;  he  was  the  Prince's  confessor, 
confidant  of  the  Princess,  spiritual  father  of  the  young 
count,  but  he  seemed  to  care  as  much  about  the  opera 
as  about  the  conversion  of  the  young  man  sitting 
before  him. 

He  asked  about  the  tenor,  the  orchestra,  the 
audience,  and  at  length  if  the  page  went  behind  the 
stage. 

'  I  ?  '  asked  Briihl  with  astonishment. 

'  I  should  think  no  worse  of  you  for  that,  if  for  the 


42  Count   Briihl 

sake  of  music,  of  art,  you  wished  to  see  how  those 
angels  look  as  common  mortals,  divested  of  the 
glitter  and  sparkle  of  the  stage.  Celesta  sang  like 
an  angel  but  she  is  ugly  as  a  devil.  There  is  no 
danger  that  the  King  will  fall  in  love  with  her.' 

And  Padre  Quarini  laughed. 

'  And  who  rules  over  the  King  ?  '  asked  he.  And 
without  waiting  for  an  answer,  he  said  :  '  It  seems 
that,  just  as  in  Poland,  the  election  is  coming.' 

He  laughed  again. 

'  But  tell  me  something  new ;  besides  that  you 
have  become  the  King's  secretary.' 

*  I  have  nothing  to  say,  except  that  nothing  can 
change  my  heart.' 

'Yes,  yes,  I  advise  you  to  be  a  good  Catholic, 
although  secretly.  We  can't  expect  from  the  present 
King  much  zeal  for  the  faith.  We  must  be  satisfied 
with  him  as  he  is,  but  his  successor  will  be  different  ; 
our  pious  lady  Josepha  will  not  permit  him  to  leave 
the  path  of  truth.  The  Prince  is  pious,  a  faithful 
husband,  a  zealous  Catholic.  When  he  becomes  ruler 
we  shall  be  mighty.  Let  us  be  patient  and  we  will 
manage  the  Protestants.  Chi  va  'piano,  va  sano — qui 
va  sano,  va  lontano ! '  He  repeated  the  word  lontano 
several  times  and  sighed. 

'  Asa  souvenir  of  this  fortunate  day,'  added  he,  'I 
must  bless  you  ;  it  will  bring  you  good  luck.     Wait.' 

Padre  Guarini  pulled  out  a  drawer  and  took  from 
it  a  black  rosary  on  which  were  a  cross  and  medallion. 

'  The  Holy  Father  blessed  it ;  to  the  one  who 
recites  it  every  day,  pardon  is  granted.' 

Briihl  murmured  something  indistinctly  by  way  of 
thanks,  kissed  his  hand  and  rose. 

Padre  Guarini  bent  over  and  whispered  something 


Count  Briihl  43 


in  his  ear.  The  page,  having  nodded  in  the  affirmative, 
kissed  his  hand  again  and  went  out.  The  old  servant 
awaited  him  at  the  door  with  a  candle.  Briihl  gave 
him  a  thaler,  wrapped  himself  in  his  mantle  and 
descended  the  stairs.  On  reaching  the  door  he  looked 
cautiously  down  the  street,  and  seeing  no  one  pressed 
forward.  Then  he  stopped,  seeming  in  doubt  as  to 
where  to  go.  He  put  the  rosary  which  he  was  hold- 
ing in  his  hand  in  a  side  pocket,  and  looked  for  a 
familiar  house  near  St  Sophia  Church. 

He  glanced  round  once  more.  The  door  was 
opened.  A  little  oil  lamp  gave  a  pale  light.  The 
spacious  Grothic  hall  was  quiet  and  solitary.  Briihl 
rang  the  bell  on  the  first  floor.  A  female  servant 
came  and  opened  it. 

'  Is  the  minister  at  home  ?  '  he  asked. 

'  Yes,  sir,  but  he  is  engaged  with  visitors.' 

*  Visitors  ?  '  repeated  Briihl,  hesitating  as  to  what 
to  do.     'Who  is  there?' 

'  Some  pious  young  men  from  Leipzig.' 

Briihl  was  still  hesitating,  when  a  dignified  middle- 
aged  man  appeared  in  the  doorway  and  conducted 
him  to  a  further  apartment. 

'I  do  not  wish  to  intrude,'  said  the  page,  bowing. 

'You  never  intrude,'  said  the  host  coolly  and 
distinctly.  'The  people  will  not  crowd  my  house 
any  more  now.  Pray,  come  in.  In  a  Protestant 
country  one  enters  a  clergyman's  house  secretly,  as 
the  first  Christians  did  into  the  catacombs.  Glory 
to  those  who  pass  our  threshold.' 

So  saying  he  entered  with  Briihl  into  a  large, 
modestly  furnished  room.  Here  were  two  young 
men,  and  it  seemed  to  Briihl  that  he  knew  the  taller 
of  the  two.     He  could  not  however  remember  where 


44  Count  Brlihl 

he  had  seen  him.    The  tall  man  also  looked  attentively 
at  Briihl,  and  approaching  him,  said  : 

'  If  I  am  not  mistaken,  this  is  the  second  time  we 
have  met.  I  am  indebted  to  your  kindness  that  I 
did  not  fall  into  the  hands  of  the  King's  servants  and 
was  not  treated  as  a  vagabond.' 

'  Count  Zinzendorf — ' 

'Brother  in  Christ,'  answered  the  youth,  *and  were 
you  Catholic,  Aryan,  Wicklyffite  or  of  any  denomina- 
tion, I  should  always  greet  you  as  a  brother  in  Christ.' 

The  host,  whose  face  was  severe  and  to  whom 
bushy,  contracted  eyebrows  gave  a  still  more  gloomy 
expression  groaned. 

'  Count,  let  your  dreams  alone  ;  the  chaff  must  be 
separated  from  the  grain,  although  they  both  grow 
on  one  stem.' 

Briihl  was  silent. 

'  What  news  from  the  court  ? '  asked  the  host. 
*  There  does  not  seem  to  be  any  change  ;  prayers 
in  the  morning,  opera  in  the  evening.  But  pray  be 
seated.' 

They  all  sat.  Zinzendorf  looked  at  Briihl  piercingly, 
as  though  wishing  to  penetrate  into  his  soul,  but  those 
windows,  Briihl' s  beautiful  eyes,  through  which  he 
hoped  to  look  within  him,  avoided  meeting  his. 

■  Is  it  true  that  they  are  going  to  build  a  Catholic 
church  ?  '  asked  the  host. 

'  I  don't  know  anything  definite  about  it,'  answered 
Briihl. 

'  It  would  be  scandalous  !  '  the  minister  moaned. 

'  Why  ?  '  interrupted  Zinzendorf.  '  We  complain 
that  they  are  not  tolerant ;  should  we  then  retaliate  ? 
The  glory  of  Christ  may  be  sung  in  many  ways. 
Why  not  by  Catholics  as  well  as  by  us  ?  ' 


Count   Briihl  45 

Briihl  nodded  in  the  affirmative,  but  as  he  did  so 
he  encountered  a  severe  glance  from  the  host ;  so  he 
stopped  the  gesture,  and  changed  his  expression  into 
a  double-faced  smile. 

'  Count,'  said  the  minister,  '  those  are  the  ideas  of 
youth,  beautiful  in  your  mouth,  but  impossible  in 
life.  As  one  cannot  sit  on  two  chairs,  so  one  cannot 
confess  two  religions,  for  in  that  case,  like  some 
people  in  very  high  positions,  we  have  no  religion.' 

The  minister  sighed  ;  they  all  understood  to  whom 
he  was  alluding.  Briihl  pretended  not  to  hear ; 
perchance  he  was  sorry  he  had  fallen  among  these 
men,  discussing  such  delicate  questions.  Zinzendorf, 
on  the  contrary,  seemed  to  be  perfectly  happy. 

'But  how  can  we  spread  the  truth  and  convert 
the  people  if  we  mix  not  with  those  of  other  creeds  ? 
Christ  mixed  with  Pharisees  and  heathens  and  con- 
verted them  by  His  kindness.' 

'You  are  young,  and  you  dream,'  sighed  the 
minister,  '  but  when  you  will  be  called  upon  to  fight, 
and  to  change  your  dreams  into  action — ' 

'  That's  what  I  desire  ! '  the  young  enthusiast  cried, 
lifting  his  hands.  'Did  I  only  love  myself,  I  would 
go  into  the  desert  to  seek  for  Christ  in  contemplation  ; 
but  I  love  my  fellow-man,  everybody,  even  those  who 
are  in  error  ;  that  is  why  I  shall  act  and  try  to  realise 
my  dreams,  as  you  put  it.' 

The  minister,  Briihl,  and  the  other  young  man, 
each  listened  with  quite  different  feelings.  The 
first  stood  gloomy  and  irritated,  the  second  was 
embarrassed  although  he  smiled,  and  the  other  was 
filled  with  admiration  for  each  of  his  friend's  words. 

'  I  think  that  your  zeal,'  said  the  minister,  '  would 
diminish  at  court.' 


46  Count  Briihl 

^  Shall  we  have  the  pleasure  of  seeing  you  at  the 
court  ?  '  Briihl  asked  quietly. 

*  Never  ! '  exclaimed  Zinzendorf .  *  I,  at  court  ? 
There  is  no  power  that  could  bring  me  there.  My 
court  is  where  there  are  poor  people,  my  future  is  to 
apply  Christ's  teaching  to  my  life.  I  go  to  preach 
Christ's  love.  At  court  I  should  be  sneered  at. — I 
shall  search  for  another  field  in  order  to  accomplish 
that  whereunto  I  am  called.' 

'  But  your  family,  Count  ? '  said  the  minister. 

*My  father  is  in  heaven,'  answered  Zinzendorf. 
*  To  Him  alone  I  owe  obedience.' 

Briihl  came  to  the  conclusion  that  he  had  nothing 
to  do  there.  Zinzendorf  frightened  him  by  his 
extraordinary  speech.  He  took  the  minister  aside, 
whispered  with  him  for  a  moment,  and  took  his 
leave.  He  bowed  from  afar  in  true  courtly  manner 
to  the  apostle  and  went  out.  It  would  be  difficult  to 
say  whether  he  was  more  sincere  with  the  Jesuit 
or  with  the  minister,  but  the  fact  remains  that 
although  he  visited  both,  he  flattered  Padre  Quarini 
more  than  the  Rev.  Knofl. 

In  the  street  Briihl  again  hesitated.  The  Prince's 
palace  was  not  far  distant.  Two  guards  were  at 
the  door.  The  young  page  went  into  the  courtyard 
and  ran  to  the  left  wing.  The  open  door  and  the 
light  in  the  window  tempted  him  to  try  his  luck 
at  the  court  also.  Here  lived  the  Countess  Kolo wrath, 
lady  in  waiting  to  the  princess,  her  favourite,  a  much 
respected  and  middle-aged  lady ;  she  was  fond  of  the 
young  page,  who  would  bring  her  all  the  gossip  of 
the  court. 

He  could  enter  her  apartments  at  any  hour  of  the 
day,  and  took  advantage  of  that  privilege  very  freely, 


Count  Briihl 


but'  in  such,  a  way  as  not  to  be  seen  by  the  people, 
or  to  give  them  a  chance  to  know  about  his  intimacy 
with,  the  Countess. 

In  the  ante-room  a  lackey,  in  the  court  livery, 
opened  the  door  and  showed  in  the  page.  Briihl 
entered  on  tip-toe.  The  drawing-room  was  lighted 
with  a  few  wax  candles.  To  the  right,  through  the 
half-opened  door  a  stream  of  bright  light  was  seen, 
and  at  the  noise  of  Briihl' s  shoes  on  the  shining 
parquetry  floor,  a  child's  head  appeared. 
Briihl  stepped  softly  forward. 

'Ah!  it's  you.  Monsieur  Henry,'  said  afresh  voice. 
*  Wait  a  moment.' 

The  head  disappeared,  but  soon  the  door  opened 
wide  and  an  eight  year  old  girl  came  to  it.  She 
wore  a  satin  dress  ornamented  with  lace,  silk  a  jour 
stockings,  shoes  with  high  heels ;  her  hair  was 
curled  and  powdered,  and  she  looked  more  like  a 
doll  than  a  child.  She  smiled  to  Briihl,  curtseyed 
to  him,  as  it  was  customary  in  the  court  and  as  she 
was  taught  by  her  maitre  de  hallet^  Monsieur  Favier. 
She  had  the  comically  serious  mien  of  those  china 
figures  made  in  Meissen. 

Briihl  bowed  to  her  as  he  would  have  done  to  an 
elderly  lady.  The  child  looked  seriously  at  him 
with  a  pair  of  big  black  eyes,  but  all  at  once  her 
seriousness  forsook  her  and  she  burst  into  laughter. 
The  comedy  was  over. 

'  How  do  you  do,  Henry  ?  ' 
'  And  how  is  her  Excellency  ?  ' 
*Her    Excellency,    my    mother,    prays   with    the 
Princess.     Padre  Guarini  recites  a  litany,  and  I  am 
bored.     Listen,  Briihl,  let  us  play  at  court ;   I  shall 
be  the  queen  and  you  the  great  chamberlain.' 


48  Count  Briihl 

'I  would  do  it  willingly,  my  dear  Frances,'  but 
I  must  return  to  the  King's  service  before  playing.' 

'You  are  not  polite  towards  the  ladies  !  "  answered 
the  little  Countess  with  the  air  of  an  old  lady,  which 
made  her  very  amusing. 

'I  will  not  love  you,  and  should  you  ever  fall 
in  love  with  me — ' 

'Ah  !  yes,  it  will  be  soon,'  said  Briihl  laughing. 

'Then  you  will  see  how  cruel  I  shall  be,'  added 
Frances. 

Saying  this  she  almost  turned  her  back  on  Briihl, 
took  a  fan  from  a  chair,  inclined  her  head  back- 
wards, pouted  her  lips  and  looked  at  Briihl  with 
contempt.  In  the  eyes  of  that  girl  there  was  already 
reflected  the  frivolity  of  the  times. 

Briihl  stood  enchanted  and  the  scene  would 
perhaps  have  lasted  much  longer  had  it  not  been 
interrupted  by  the  rustling  of  a  silk  gown  and 
then  by  laughter. 

'  Francesca  !  Briihl,  you  are  courting  my  daughter.' 

The  lady  who  said  these  words,  was  tall,  majestic, 
still  very  beautiful,  and  above  all  had  an  aristocratic 
bearing.  She  was  Frances's  mother.  Frances  did 
not  become  confused,  she  repeated  her  curtsey  and 
then  ran  to  her.  Briihl  bowed  humbly  and  then 
looked  with  ecstasy  into  the  Countess's  black  eyes. 

She  was  no  longer  young  but  her  features  were 
still  very  beautiful.  The  whiteness  of  her  com- 
plexion was  enhanced  by  black  hair,  that  night 
innocent  of  powder,  but  carefully  dressed.  Her  figure, 
notwithstanding  its  ample  form,  was  still  graceful. 
She  looked  at  the  page  with  half-closed  eyes. 

'Frances,'  said  she,  'go  to  Fraiilein  Braun ;  I 
must  have  some  conversation  with  Henry.' 


Count   Briihl  49 

The  girl  looked  roguishly  at  her  mother  and  dis- 
appeared through  the  door.  The  Countess,  rapidly 
moving  her  fan,  walked  to  and  fro  in  the  room, 
then  bending  towards  Briihl,  spoke  confidentially. 

Briihl  followed  her  respectfully,  although  some- 
times he  approached  perchance  too  near. 

Even  the  pictures  on  the  walls  heard  not  that 
conversation,  and  half  an  hour  later  the  page  was 
sitting  in  the  King's  ante-room,  apparently  dozing. 


CHAPTER  III 

Ten  5'ears  have  passed  since  that  prologue  to  Briihl's 
life,  since  that  first  scene  in  a  long  drama.  Briihl 
was  still  that  brilliant,  affable,  charming  young 
man,  whose  fascination  even  his  foes  could  not  resist. 

In  the  magnificent  court  of  the  Louis  XIV  of  the 
North,  whom  the  flatterer  called  Apollo-Hercules, 
the  people  and  favourites  were  changed.  A  few 
days  after  that  on  which  Briihl  succeeded  to 
Pauli's  office,  Augustus  II's  favourite  became  his 
aide-de-camp. 

When  old  Fleming  died,  Briihl  was  placed  in 
charge  of  the  King's  secret  archives.  Humble 
and  exceedingly  polite,  Briihl  succeeded  in  over- 
throwing two  ministers  :  Fleming  and  Manteufel. 
Soon  he  was  created  a  chamberlain,  and  promoted 
to  wear  a  key,  as  badge  of  office  ;  the  key  to  the 
king's  heart  and  exchequer  he  had  already  possessed 
for  some  time ;  at  length  he  became  a  grand 
chamberlain  and  was  given  a  new  appointment 
created  specially  for  him,  that  of  grand  maitre  de  la 
garde-rohe.  To  this  office  belonged  the  care  of  the 
libraries,  art  galleries  and  other  collections  of 
Augustus  II,  who  could  do  nothing  without 
Briihl.  Many  others  could  not  do  without  him 
either,  and  he,  as  if  needing  everyone  himself, 
as  if  afraid  of  everyone,  bowed,  smiled,  and 
respected  even  the  door  keeper  of  the  castle. 

King  Augustus  the  Strong  had  changed  a  great 


Count  Briihl  5i 

deal  since  the  daj^s  when  he  could  drink  so  much. 
He  still  preserved  the  stature  of  Hercules  but 
no  longer  possessed  his  strength.  No  more  could 
he  dig  his  spurs  into  his  horse's  flanks  or  saw 
his  head  off.  Carefully  dressed  and  smiling  he 
would  walk  with  a  stick,  and  if  he  lingered  for 
a  longer  time  than  usual  to  chat  with  a  lady  he 
would  look  round  for  a  chair,  for  he  felt  pain 
in  the  toe,  which  the  surgeon  Weiss  cut  off,  risking 
his  head,  but  saving  the  King's  life.  The  surgeon's 
head  still  existed,  but  the  toe  did  not,  and  thus 
the  King  could  not  stand  for  long  at  a  time.  It 
was  a  glorious  memory  that  tournament  in  which 
Augustus  conquered  the  heart  of  Princess  Lubonirski. 
The  King's  loves  were  scattered  throughout  the 
world.  Even  the  last,  Orzelska,  now  the  Princess 
Holstein  Beck,  was  a  respectable  mother  of  a 
family,  for  in  the  year  1732,  during  the  carnival, 
she  gave  birth  to  the  future  head  of  the  princely 
house. 

The  King  would  have  felt  lonely  had  not  the 
Italian  nightingale,  Faustina  Bordoni,  brightened 
his  gloomy  thoughts  by  her  lovely  voice.  The 
singer  was  married  to  the  famous  composer  of 
those  times,  Hasse,  whom  however  they  sent  to 
Italy,  in  order  to  give  him  a  chance  to  cultivate 
his  art  and  that  he  might  not  disturb  his  wife. 
Hasse  composed  masterpieces  inspired  by  the 
yearning  of  his  heart. 

That  year  the  carnival  promised  to  be  brilliant, 
but  there  was  a  lack  of  money,  which  the  King 
could  not  bear :  Briihl,  who  could  manage  every- 
thing, was  the  only  man  who  could  assure  tranquillity 
to  the  King's  mind.     Therefore,  during  the  carnival 


52  Count   Briihl 

the  King  entrusted  the  modest  Briihl  with  the 
portfolio  of  the  minister  of  finance. 

In  vain  the  modest  young  official  tried  to  excuse 
himself  from  such  an  honour,  but  King  Augustus  II 
would  brook  no  refusal,  would  listen  to  no  excuses, 
and  commanded  him  to  provide  him  with  money. 
From  that  moment  it  was  Briihl's  duty  to  make 
the  Pactolus  flow  continually  with  gold,  although  it 
would  be  mixed  with  blood  and  tears. 

Briihl  was  no  longer  a  humble  page,  but  a  man 
with  whom  the  most  influential  dignitaries  were 
obliged  to  reckon.  The  King  would  permit  no 
word  against  him,  and  would  frown  threateningly 
if  any  were  ventured.  In  him  alone  he  found  that 
for  which  he  had  formerly  looked  in  ten  other 
men.  Briihl  knew  all  about  pictures,  he  was  fond 
of  music,  he  understood  how  to  get  money  from 
those  who  were  moneyless,  how  to  be  blind  when 
occasion  demanded,  how  to  be  dumb  when  it  was 
prudent ;  he  was  always  obedient. 

Through  the  King's  munificence  he  was  then 
given  a  house  near  the  castle,  and  he  soon  turned 
it  into  a  palace. 

The  evening  before  Shrove-Tuesday  the  newly 
created  minister  was  sitting  in  his  palace ;  he  was 
thoughtful,  and  seemed  to  be  awaiting  the  arrival  of 
someone. 

The  room  in  which  he  sat  might  have  been  the 
boudoir  of  the  most  fastidious  woman  spoiled  by  the 
luxury  of  the  court.  In  gilded  frames  shone  mirrors  ; 
the  walls  were  covered  with  lilac-coloured  silk ;  on 
the  mantle-pieces,  tables,  consols,  there  was  a  perfect 
museum  of  china  and  bronzes  ;  the  floor  was  covered 
with  a  soft  carpet. 


Count   Briihl  53 

Briihl,  with  his  legs  stretched  out,  lying  back  in 
the  recesses  of  a  comfortable  arm  chair,  his  hand 
shining  with  splendid  rings,  seemed  to  be  absorbed 
in  thought  and  perplexities.  From  time  to  time,  at 
the  sound  of  an  opening  door,  he  would  listen,  but 
when  nobody  came,  he  returned  to  his  thoughts  and 
calculations. 

Sometimes  he  would  glance  at  the  clock  standing 
on  the  mantle-piece,  for  a  man  burdened  with  so 
many  duties  was  obliged  to  count  his  time  as  he 
counted  the  money. 

Nothwithstanding  work  and  emotions,  his  youthful 
face  had  not  lost  its  freshness,  his  eyes  shone 
brilliantly  as  ever ;  one  felt  that  he  was  a  man  reserved 
for  the  future,  who  had  more  hopes  than  remini- 
scences. 

At  the  further  end  of  the  house  doors  could  be 
heard  opening  one  after  another.  Briihl  listened — 
steps  approached.  The  steps  were  those  of  a  man, 
though  cautious  and  soft ;  the  tread  of  one  person. 

*  It's  he,'  whispered  Briihl,  and  rose  from  the  chair. 

The  knock  at  the  door  was  gentle  and  full  of  respect, 
as  though  the  fingers  that  rapped  were  swathed  in 
cotton  wool. 

'  Enter ! '  said  Briihl  softly,  and  the  door  opened 
noiselessly.  At  the  door  stood  a  man,  such  as  one 
could  only  find  at  the  court,  for  they  are  born  for  the 
court ;  though  cradled  in  a  stable,  their  coffin  would 
certainly  be  found  in  a  palace.  He  was  tall,  strong 
and  flexible  in  every  movement  as  a  juggler. 

At  the  first  glance  one  could  read  nothing  in  the 
man's  face,  for  its  features  were  insignificant,  neither 
ugly  nor  comely,  the  expression  was  cole}  and  vulgar. 
Clean-shaven,  his  lips  closed  so  tightly  that  one  could 


54  Count   Briihl 

hardly  see  them,  the  new-comer  stood  humbly  at  the 
door  and  waited  to  be  questioned. 

His  dress  did  not  betray  to  what  class  he  belonged. 
It  was  neither  elegant  nor  striking.  The  coat  he 
wore  was  grey  with  steel  bnttohs  ;  the  rest  was  black ; 
at  his  side  hung  a  sword  with  dark  enamelled  hilt ; 
on  his  head  he  had  a  wig,  which  was  rather  official 
arid  dignified  than  coquettish.  Under  his  arm  he  held 
a  black  hat,  innocent  of  galoons  ;  and  he  had  no  lace 
round  his  sleeves.  Briihl  on  seeing  the  man,  rose 
quickly  as  though  moved  by  a  spring,  and  walked 
across  the  room. 

'  Hans,'  said  he,  '  we  have  but  half  an  hour.  I  sent 
for  you  about  an  unfortunate  affair.  Open  the  door 
arid  see  that  there  is  no  one  in  the  ante-room.' 

The  obedient  Hans  Henniche  quickly  opened  the 
door,  looked  through  it,  and  signed  that  there  was 
no  one. 

'  You  know,'  said  Briihl,  '  that  his  Majesty  was  kind 
enough  to  appoint  me  Secretary  of  the  Treasury,' 

*  I  wanted  to  congratulate  your  Excellency,'  said 
Henniche  with  a  bow. 

'  Don't  trouble  yourself,'  said  Briihl  with  the  well- 
assumed  mien  of  an  embarrassed  man.  '  It's  a  new 
burden  on  my  feeble  shoulders,' 

*Your  Excellency  is  too  modest,'  said  Henniche 
with  a  new  bow. 

'  Hans,'  said  Briihl,  '  do  you  wish  to  help  me,  to  be 
my  right  hand  ?  Will  you  swear  to  be  faithful  and 
obedient  to  me?  Do  you  wish  to  go  with  me,  even  if 
we  have  to  break  our  necks  ?  ' 

'But  you  and  I  can't  break  our  necks,'  said 
Henniche,  smiling  cynically. 

'  Stronger  people  than  we  have  done  so  before  now,' 


Count  Briihl  55 

'  Yes,  but  they  were  not  so  cunning  as  we  are ! 
Strength  means  nothing,  if  one  does  not  know  how  to 
use  it.  I  guarantee  you  that  we  shall  succeed,  pro- 
vided I  can  do  what  I  please.' 

'Remember  only,'  Briihl  said  coolly,  'that  these 
are  not  trifling  words,  but  a  solemn  oath.' 

Henniche  raised  his  hand  and  said  ironically : 

'  1  swear — but  on  what,  my  lord  and  master  ?  ' 

'  On  God  !  '  said  Briihl,  bending  his  head  piously. 
'  Henniche,  you  know  that  I  am  a  religious  man,  you 
mustn't  joke.' 

'  Your  Excellency,  I  never  joke.  Joking  is  a  very 
costly  thing,  and  many  people  pay  for  it  with  their 
lives.' 

'  If  you  help  me,'  added  Briihl,  '  I  promise  to  make 
you  rich,  powerful,  important.' 

'  Before  all,  the  first,'  said  Henniche,  '  for  riches 
mean  everything.' 

'  You  forget  the  one  who  although  rich  went  to 
Konigstein.' 

'  Do  you  know  why  ?  ' 

'Lord's  disgrace.     God's  disgrace.' 
*     'No,  it's  trifling  with  the  sleeper,'  said  Henniche. 
'  An  intelligent  man  ought  to  put  a  sleeper  on  the 
altar  and  pray  to  it :  the  women  do  everything.' 

'  But  they  fall  also  :  Cosel  is  in  Stolpen.' 

^  And  who  overthrew  Cosel  ?  '  asked  Henniche. 
'  If  you  look  through  a  glass  you  will  see  the  white 
fingers  of  the  Countess  DenhofE  and  a  small  sleeper, 
under  which  the  great  King  was  held.' 

Briihl  sighed  but  made  no  remark. 

'  Your  Excellency  entered  on  a  new  life  yesterday, 
and  ought  to  remember  one  word  :  woman.' 

'  I  remember   it,'   Briihl   said  gloomily,   '  but  we 


56  Count  Bruhl 

don't  have  time  to  talk  about  it.  Then  you  are 
with  me  ? ' 

'For  life  or  death,'  answered  Henniche.  *I  am  a 
man  of  no  importance  but  great  experience  ;  and 
believe  me  that  my  wisdom  is  quite  equal  to  those 
who  bear  silver  trays  to  drawing-rooms.  I  need 
make  no  secret  to  you  that  for  a  long  time  I  served 
as  a  lackey  and  used  to  open  the  door.  But  before 
that  they  opened  to  me.  My  first  experience  was  in 
Liitzen  as  a  revenue  officer.' 

'  That  is  why  I  need  you.  The  King  needs  money 
and  the  country  is  already  overtaxed.  The  people 
groan  and  complain.' 

'  Who  would  listen  to  them  ?  '  answered  Henniche 
indifferently.  '  They  will  never  be  satisfied,  they 
will  always  complain.  One  must  squeeze  them  as 
one  squeezes  a  lemon  for  the  juice.' 

'  But  how  ?  ' 

'  We  shall  find  the  means.' 

*  They  will  complain.' 

*  To  whom  ?  '  said  Henniche  laughing.  '  Can  we  not 
close  the  road  with  bars,  and  send  those  who  are  too 
noisy  to  Konigstein,  or  Sonnenstein,  or  Plissenburg, 
for  the  sake  of  the  King's  tranquillity  ? ' 

'Yes,  that's  true,'  said  Briihl  thoughtfully,  'but  it 
won't  bring  any  money.' 

'  On  the  contrary,  we  must  be  severe,  if  we  wish  to 
obtain  it.' 

Briihl  listened  attentively. 

'  We  need  a  great  deal  of  money ;  the  carnival 
will  be  costlj^' 

'  Yes,  and  all  that  is  spent  at  court  does  not  sink  into 
the  ground,  it  returns  to  the  people,  therefore  they  can 
pay.     We  need  money  for  the  King  and  for  ourselves.' 


Count  Briihl  57 

Briihl  smiled  and  said : 

*  Naturally,  we  cannot  toil  for  nothing/ 

*  And  endure  so  many  curses.' 

*Well,  when  it  is  a  matter  of  duty,  one  cannot 
pay  attention  to  cursing.  The  King  must  have  that 
which  he  needs.' 

'  And  we,  what  is  due  to  us,'  Henniche  added. 

Briihl  stepped  before  him  and  said  after  careful 
thought : — 

*  Then  keep  your  eyes  and  ears  open ;  inform  me 
about  everything,  work  for  me  and  for  yourself;  I 
have  already  so  much  to  do,  that  I  can  undertake  no 
more  without  you.' 

'  Rely  on  me,'  said  Henniche.  '  I  quite  understand, 
that  while  working  for  you,  I  work  for  myself.  I 
don't  promise  you  Platonic  love ;  for  thus  if  I  mis- 
take not,  they  call  kissing  the  gloves,  having  no 
respect  for  the  hands.  One  must  clearly  define  the 
business.  I  shall  remember  my  own  interests  ;  you 
and  I  will  not  forget  the  King.* 

He  bowed.     Briihl  clapped  him  on  the  shoulder. 

*  Henniche,  I  shall  help  you  to  rise.' 

'Provided  it's  not  too  high,  and  not  in  the  new 
market  square,'  whispered  Henniche. 

*You  may  be  easy  about  that.  And  now,  what 
would  you  advise  me  to  do  in  order  that  I  may  not 
lose  my  footing  at  the  court  ?  It  is  easy  to  mount 
the  ladder,  but  the  question  is  not  to  break  one's  neck.' 

'I  have  only  one  piece  of  advice,'  said  the  former 
lackey,  '  everything  is  done  bv  the  women.' 

'  Oh  !  Oh ! '  said  Briihl, '  there  are  other  means  too.* 

'  YeSy  I  know  that  your  Excellency  has  Padre 
Guarini  on  his  side.' 

*  Silence,  Henniche ! ' 


^d.  Count   Bmhl 

'  I  am  already  silent,  but  I  must  add  all  the  same, 
that  your  Excellency  must  bear  in  mind  the  power 
of  women,  it  will  do  no  harm  to  have  two  strings  to 
one's  bow.' 

Brlihl  sighed. 

'  I  shall  remember  your  advice.' 

They  were  both  silent  for  a  few  moments. 

*How  does  your  Excellency  stand  with  the  Count 
Sulkowski  ?  '  whispered  Henniche.  '  One  must  not 
forget  that  the  sun  sets,  that  the  people  are  mortal, 
that  the  sons  succeed  the  fathers,  and  Sulkowski  the 
Brlihls.' 

'  Oh  !  '  said  Briihl,  'he  is  my  friend.' 

'  I  would  prefer  that  his  wife  was  your  Excellency's 
friend,'  said  Henniche.     '  I  put  more  faith  in  her.' 

'  Sulkowski  has  a  noble  heart.' 

'I  don't  deny  it,  but  the  best  heart  prefers  the 
chest  in  which  it  beats.  And  how  about  the  Count 
Moszynski  ? ' 

Briihl  shivered  and  blushed  :  looked  at  Henniche 
sharply,  as  though  he  would  learn  whether  he  men- 
tioned the  name  with  any  design.  But  Henniche' s 
face  was  placid  and  indifferent. 

'  The  Count  Moszynski  is  of  no  importance  what- 
ever,' hissed  Briihl,  '  and  he  never  shall  be  of  any 
importance.' 

'His  Majesty  gave  him  his  own  daughter,'  said 
Henniche  slowly. 

Briihl  was  silent. 

'  The  people  have  evil  tongues,'  continued  Henniche. 
'  They  say  that  Fraulein  Cosel  would  have  preferred 
to  marry  someone  else  than  Moszynski.' 

'Yes,'  cried  Briihl  passionately.  'He  has  stolen 
her  from  me.' 


Count   Briihl  59 

'  Then  lie  has  done  your  Excellency  a  great  favour,' 
said  Henniche  laughing,  '  instead  of  one  tool,  you 
can  have  two.' 

They  looked  into  each  other's  eyes.  Briihl  was 
gloomy. 

'  Enough  of  it,'  said  he.  '  Remember  that  you  are 
mine  and  count  on  me.  Your  office  will  be  here  ; 
to-morrow  I  shall  send  you  an  official  appointment.^ 

Henniche  bowed. 

*And  salary  corresponding  with  my  official 
position.' 

'  Yes,  if  you  find  the  means  to  pay  it  with.' 

'  That  is  my  business.' 

*ltislate;  good-night.' 

Henniche  bowed  and  went  out  as  quietly,  as  he 
came. 

Briihl  rang  the  bell ;  a  lacke}^  promptly  attended. 

'  I  must  be  in  the  castle  in  half-an-hour :  my 
post-chaise  ! ' 

'  It  is  ready.' 

'  Domino,  masque  ?  ' 

'Everything  is  ready,'  and  having  said  this  the 
lackey  opened  the  door  and  conducted  Briihl  to  a 
large  dressing-room. 

Brlihl's  dressing-room  was  already  considered  one 
of  the  sights  of  the  capital.  Round  it  were  large 
wardrobes  of  carved  oak ;  between  two  windows 
stood  a  table  and  on  it  a  large  mirror  in  a  china 
frame  composed  of  cupids  and  flowers.  Round  the 
table,  winter  and  summer,  there  were  always  a  pro- 
fusion of  roses  and  lilies  of  the  valley.  And  on  the 
table  were  disposed  such  an  array  of  toilet  articles 
as  might  have  belonged  to  a  woman.  The  wardrobes 
contained    dresses    with    shoes,    swotds,   hats,   and 


60  Count   Briihl 

watches  to  match  each,  for  the  fashion  demanded 
that  everything  should  be  in  harmony. 

For  that  evening  the  most  important  detail  was 
the  domino  and  not  the  dress.  In  a  special  wardrobe 
was  everything  necessary  for  fancy  balls.  Briihl 
was  not  quite  decided  in  his  choice  of  a  dress.  It 
was  a  very  important  matter,  for  the  King  was  fond 
of  difficulty  in  recognising  his  guests  ;  and  perchance 
Briihl  did  not  wish  to  be  recognised  at  all. 

The  lackey,  walking  after  him  with  a  candelabra, 
waited  for  the  order. 

'  Where  is  that  dress  of  a  Venetian  noble  ?  '  asked 
Briihl  turning  to  the  lackey. 

The  servant  ran  to  a  wardrobe  standing  in  a 
corner  and  handed  him  the  dress. 

Briihl  began  to  dress  hastily.  The  dress  was 
becoming  to  him ;  everything  was  black,  even  the 
sword.  The  only  shining  ornament  was  a  heavy 
gold  chain  on  which  hung  a  medallion  on  which  was 
the  figure  of  Augustus  the  Strong.  Briihl  looked 
at  himself  in  the  mirror  and  put  on  a  mask.  In 
order  not  to  be  easily  recognised  he  glued  to  his 
chin  a  little  Spanish  beard. 

He  changed  the  rings  on  his  fingers  and  went 
downstairs. 

At   the   door   the   post-chaise   was    in    readiness. 

The  two  carriers  wore  red  woollen  caps,  short 
dark  brown  cloaks  and  masks.  The  moment  Briihl 
entered  the  carriage  and  drew  the  green  curtain 
he  was  driven  to  the  castle. 

In  the  principal  gate  the  guards,  gorgeously 
dressed,  permitted  only  the  lords'  carriages  and 
post-chaises  to  pass,  thrusting  back  the  curious 
crowd  with  halberds. 


Count   Briihl  ei 

The  court  was  already  crowded  with  equipages, 
post-chaises  and  servants.  The  castle  was  profusely 
lighted :  that  day  two  courts  were  united,  those  of 
the  King  and  the  Prince. 

Within  the  castle  there  were  already  numerous 
guests,  all  in  fancy  dress.  Briihl' s  post-chaise 
stopped  at  the  door  and  a  Venetian  nobleman  stepped 
out  gravely.  Just  as  he  was  about  to  mount  the 
stairs,  there  appeared  another  Italian  but  quite 
differently  dressed.  He  was  tall,  strong,  stiff,  with 
a  soldierly  bearing,  and  was  dressed  like  a  bandit 
taken  from  Salvator  Rosa's  picture.  The  costume 
was  very  becoming  to  him.  His  head  was  covered 
with  a  light,  iron  helmet,  on  his  chest  he  wore 
armour  ornamented  with  gold,  over  his  shoulder 
was  thrown  a  short  cloak,  at  his  side  he  had  a  sword, 
and  at  his  belt  a  dagger.  His  face  was  covered  with 
a  frightful  mask,  with  long  moustachios  and  a  small 
beard. 

Briihl  glanced  at  the  unpleasant  mask  and  walked 
upstairs,  but  the  bandit  followed  him. 

'  Signore  I '  he  hissed,  '  come  sta  ? ' 

Briihl  merely  nodded.  The  bandit  came  close  to 
him,  bent  over  him  and  whispered  evidently  some- 
thing disagreeable  in  his  ear,  for  Briihl  drew  aside 
impatiently.     The  bandit  laughed  and  said  : 

*  A  rivederei,  carissimo,  a  rivederci  I '  and  continued 
to  follow  him. 

One  could  already  hear  the  music.  When  they 
both  reached  the  rooms,  Briihl  disappeared  in  the 
crowd.  The  rich,  resplendent  dresses  of  the  women, 
were  shining  with  precious  stones.  Everybody 
moved  about,  laughed,  muttered,  exclaimed,  came 
and  went. 


62  Count   Brlihl 

In  magnificent  Polish  dresses,  tkeir  swords 
ornamented  with  precious  stones,  w^alked  several 
senators  who  were  easily  recognised,  for  they  wore 
only  a  small  black  strip  over  their  eyes,  in  obedience 
to  the  King's  order,  that  everyone  should  wear  a 
mask.  There  were  many  Turks  and  Spaniards ; 
several  monks,  women  disguised  as  bats,  many 
mythological  goddesses  and  Venetians  were  to  be 
distinguished  among  clowns,  harlequins,  and  cupids 
with  bows  and  arrows.  There  were  also  Queen 
Elizabeth,  Mary  Stuart,  Henry  IV,  and  many  others. 

The  King,  leaning  on  a  gold-headed  stick,  walked 
slowly,  talked  to  the  women,  and  tried  to  recognise 
them.  It  was  not  difficult  for  him,  he  knew  them 
all,  at  least  those  who  were  worthy  to  be  known. 

In  one  of  the  King's  rooms  were  beautiful  ladies 
sitting  in  the  booths  distributing  refreshments.. 
Beyond  the  King's  apartments,  the  Princess  Josepha 
and  her  court  received  the  distinguished  guests. 
Among  her  ladies  in  waiting  the  most  brilliant  was 
Frances  Kolowrath,  the  same  who,  when  but  eight 
years  of  age,  could  so  well  play  the  role  of  a  lady 
of  the  court.  Now  she  was  a  beautiful  young 
lady,  coquettish,  lively,  proud,  and  covered  with 
diamonds. 

The  Princess  Josepha  did  not  participate  much 
in  such  amusements ;  she  was  there  only  to  please 
her  father-in-law  and  her  husband.  Her  proud 
mien,  severe  and  not  beautiful  face,  cold  manners, 
did  not  attract  the  people.  Everybody  knew  she 
was  not  fond  of  amusements,  that  she  preferred 
family  life,  prayers  and  gossip.  Severe  with  herself 
she  was  the  same  with  others,  and  looked  sharply  at 
those  around  her.     Her  surroundings  were  stiff  and 


Count   Briihl  63 

cold.  Nobody  dared  to  joke  for  fear  of  the  lady's 
disapp  roval  of  any  outburst  of  levity.  Even  during 
the  fancy  dress  ball,  Josepha  did  not  forget  that  she 
was  the  daughter  of  an  emperor. 

Polite,  affable,  silent,  the  Prince  Frederick  stood 
beside  her ;  he  was  good-looking  but  also  cold  and 
stiff  like  a  statue.  He  was  pleased  that  others 
enjoyed  themselves,  but  took  no  part  in  the 
entertainment.  One  could  see,  that  notwith- 
standing his  youth,  he  was  both  physically  and 
spiritually  heavy,  especially  spiritually. 

Splendidly  dressed  and  lordly-looking,  Sulkowski, 
the  acknowledged  favourite  of  the  Prince,  stood 
behind  him,  ready  to  carry  out  his  orders.  The 
Prince  would  often  turn  to  him,  ask  some  question 
and  having  received  the  answer,  nod  his  head  in 
sign  of  satisfaction. 

On  seeing  them  together,  one  could  easily  guess 
their  relation  to  each  other.  The  servant  was  much 
more  lord  than  the  lord  himself,  who  merely  repre- 
sented his  office  but  did  not  feel  it.  Sulkowski  on 
the  contrary  assumed  great  airs  and  looked  proudly 
on  the  people  around  him. 

He  was  also  better  looking  than  the  Prince,  who 
nothwithstanding  his  youthful  age  and  good  health 
looked  like  a  common  German. 

Round  Augustus  the  Strong's  table  a  more  joyful 
company  was  gathered.  Bare-shouldered  women 
tried  to  attract  the  attention  of  the  King,  who 
looked  on  their  charms  with  indifference. 

Briihl  entered,  as  it  seemed  to  him,  without  being 
noticed ;  he  did  not  speak  and  seemed  to  be 
looking  for  someone.  As  he  passed  through  the 
refreshment    rooms    he    did    not    notice    that    the 


64  Count   Briihl 

bandit  was  following  him.  His  beautiful  figure 
attracted  the  women  and  several  of  them  tried 
to  stop  him,  but  he  looked  at  them  indifferently, 
and  passed  on.  One  or  two  tried  to  intrigue  him 
but  laughing  he  whispered  their  names  and  they 
let  him  alone. 

The  King  looked  at  him  and  said  to  Frisen  : 

'If  a  Prussian  prince  were  here,  he  would  steal 
that  man  for  his  guard.     Who  is  he  ?  ' 

No  one  could  answer  the  question  for  certain. 
The  bandit  disappeared  behind  the  columns. 

In  the  meantime  Briihl  was  stopped  by  a  gipsy. 
She  was  old,  tall,  leaning  on  a  stick,  and  covered 
with  a  long  silk  cloak.  Through  the  small  mask 
could  be  seen  the  yellowish  wrinkled  face  of  the 
wDman.  She  put  out  her  hand  and  paling  asked 
him  to  give  her  his  that  she  might  tell  his  fortune. 

Briihl  had  no  wish  to  look  into  the  future  and 
wanted  to  pass  the  gipsy,  but  she  insisted. 

*  Non  ahiate  paura  ! '  whispered  she.  '  I  will  tell 
you  of  good  fortune.' 

Briihl  put  out  his  hand.  The  gipsy  lifted  it  and 
having  examined  it,  shook  her  head. 

*  A  splendid  future ! '  she  said.  '  You  will  be 
marvellously  successful,  but  I  cannot  promise  you 
much  happiness.' 

*How  can  that  be,'  said  Briihl,  *to  have  success 
and  not  be  happy  ?  ' 

'For  one  can  be  happy  but  not  successful,' 
exclaimed  the  old  woman.  'And  would  you  know 
the  reason  that  you  will  lack  happiness, — you  have 
no  heart.' 

Briihl  smiled  ironically. 

'  You  don't  love  anybody,'  continued  the  woman. 


Count  Briihl  65 

*  What  more  ?  '  he  asked. 

'You  are  ungrateful,'  she  whispered,  'you  are 
blind,  you  are  only  pursuing  greatness.' 

'X  see,'  said  Briihl,  'that  you  take  me  for  some- 
body else.' 

The  woman  wrote  on  his  palm  ;  Briihl  wihhdrew 
his  hand,  mixed  quickly  with  the  crowd  and  dis- 
appeared. Perchance  he  preferred  to  wander  un- 
known among  the  guests.  At  length  he  noticed 
a  woman  who  absorbed  his  whole  attention. 

Her  fantastic,  oriental  costume,  was  meant  to  repre- 
sent some  queen,  Semiramis  or  Cleopatra,  it  was  diffi- 
cult to  say  who,  for  its  magnificence  was  greater  than 
its  historical  exactness.  The  great  thing  in  those 
days  was  to  be  magnificently  dressed,  not  archaeo- 
logically  exact.  So  the  lady,  who  wished  to  appear 
a  majestic  ruler,  succeeded  by  means  of  her  dress 
which  was  made  of  gold  brocade,  over  which  a  trans- 
parent veil  fell  from  her  diamond  crown  to  her  dainty 
feet ;  round  her  white  neck  hung  a  magnificent 
amethyst  necklace ;  her  girdle  was  set  with 
diamonds ;  she  held  a  sceptre  in  her  hand  ;  and 
her  bearing  was  that  of  one  who  ruled  not  only 
over  people,  but  also  over  their  hearts. 

Her  hair  was  dark,  covered  with  gold  powder  ; 
the  lower  part  of  her  face  was  of  great  beauty. 

As  she  passed,  everyone  gave  way  to  her,  nobody 
dared  to  speak  to  her.    She  looked  round  indifferently. 

Briihl  stood  near  a  column,  hesitated  for  a  moment, 
and  then  greeted  her,  touching  the  brim  of  his  hat. 
She  stopped.  Briihl  put  out  his  hand  and  she  gave 
him  hers  on  which  he  wrote  her  name. 

She  looked  at  him  attentively,  and  walked  further 
on ;  Briihl  followed  her.     She  turned  several  times 

E 


66  Count   Briihl 

and  seeing  that  he  followed  her,  she  stopped  again. 
A  bench  nestled  among  some  palms,  and  here  the 
queen  sat  down.  Briihl  stood.  She  looked  at  him 
and  when  he  gave  her  his  hand,  she  wrote  H.  B. 
on  it  and  laughed. 

*  It's  no  wonder,  Countess,  that  I  recognise  you,' 
lie  said,  'for  I  could  not  mistake  you,  even  were 
you  not  dressed  like  a  queen.  But  I  wonder  how 
you  recognised  me  ?  ' 

'By  the  dress  of  a  member  of  the  Council  of 
Trent,'  said  the  lady.  'And  to  whom  would  it  be 
more  becoming  than  to  you  ?  * 

'  Countess,  you  are  beautiful.' 

She  accepted  the  compliment  without  paying  much 
heed  to  it. 

'  But    beautiful,'    he   continued,    '  like    a    marble 
statue,  and  cold  like  the  marble.' 
.    '  What  more  ?  '  asked  the  woman.     '  Say  something 
more  amusing,  I  have  heard  that  so  many  times.' 

'  What  else  could  I  say  to  you  ? '  said  Briihl  with 
trembling  voice.  '  Every  time  I  look  at  you  my  anger 
is  aroused,  storms  of  vengeance  and  jealousy  shake 
me.' 

'Very  pathetic,'  whispered  the  woman.  'What 
more  ? ' 

'  Had  I  the  heart,  I  would  curse  the  hour  I  first  saw 
you,'  said  Briihl  passionately.     '  But  a  glance  at  you 
conquers  me.     You  have  a  power  over  me  possessed 
by  no  one  else.' 
;  '  Is  that  true  ?  '  the  woman  coolly  inquired. 

'  Is  it  necessary  to  swear  it  to  you  ?  ' 
'I  do  not  need  your  oath.     I  merely  wanted  to  be^ 
convinced,  and  very  often  an  oath  fails.' 

She  looked  at  him  piercingly.  : 


Count   Briihl  67 

'  But  my  love — '  said  Briihl. 
The  woman  laughed. 

*  Briihl,'  she  said,  '  I  believe  you  were  in  love  with 
me,  I  am  not  surprised  at  that.  I  was  young,  I  had 
a  good  name  and  I  could  assure  a  splendid  future  to 
the  man  I  married  ;  but  your  love  might  have  been 
that  we  see  everyday,  burning  in  the  morning  and 
quenched  in  the  evening.  I  do  not  want  such 
love.' 

'  I  gave  you  proof  of  my  constancy,'  said  Briihl 
with  animation.  *  My  love  for  you  began  when  I  was 
a  mere  lad  and  was  not  quenched  even  when  you  took 
all  hope  away ;  it  lasts  although  repulsed  and 
despised.' 

'  Is  it  love  or  ambition  ?  '  asked  the  woman.  '  For 
with  you  ambition  dominates  everything.' 

'  I  do  not  deny  that  since  I  cannot  be  happy,  my 
aim  is  now  to  be  strong  and  to  be  feared.' 

The  woman  looked  at  him  and  spoke  slowly. 

^  I  do  not  know  what  the  future  may  have  in  store 
for  us.  Wait,  be  faithful  to  me.  I  will  be  frank 
with  you  ;  I  was  fond  of  you  ;  with  you  I  could  have 
been  happy ;  we  are  alike  in  character. — But  things 
are  better  as  they  are.  Husband  and  wife  are  two 
fighting  enemies  ;  we  can  be  faithful  friends  to  each 
other.' 

*  Friends  !  '  said  Briihl,  '  it  sounds  like  a  funeral  to 
my  love  for  you.  Your  husband  will  be  your  lover 
and  I  your  friend  ;  that  means  a  despised  friend.' 

'  A  husband  a  lover  ? '  said  the  woman  laughing. 
*  Where  did  you  hear  of  that  ?  Those  two  words 
swear  at  each  other.  My  husband,  I  hate  him,  I 
despise  him,  I  can't  bear  him  !  ' 

'  But  you  married  him.' 


68  Count   Briihl 

'  My  father,  the  King,  married  me  to  him ;  but 
"believe  me,  it  is  well  that  it  happened  so.  With  him 
my  heart  is  free,  I  am  myself  and  shall  preserve  my- 
self for  the  future.     I  believe  in  my  star.' 

'  Will  our  stars  ever  meet  ?  ' 

*If  they  are  destined  for  each  other,  they  will.' 

'  You  say  this  so  indifferently — ' 

*  I  always  control  my  feelings,  whether  I  love  or 
hate.  The  sentiment  that  betrays  itself,  becomes  the 
prey  of  the  people.' 

'  But  how  can  one  believe  in  it,  if  one  cannot  see 
it?' 

'  Then  what  is  faith  ? '  said  the  woman  laughing. 
*  The  one  who  loves  must  feel,  and  he  who  cannot 
guess  the  woman's  love  is  not  worthy  of  it.' 

Having  said  this,  she  very  quickly,  and  before 
Briihl  could  realise  it,  disappeared. 

He  was  standing  thoughtfully,  when  a  rather 
remarkable  clown — for  he  had  diamond  buttons — 
appeared.  He  seemed  to  be  looking  for  someone  and 
seeing  only  the  Venetian,  stopped,  gazing  at  him 
attentively.  He  bent  down,  wishing  to  look  under 
the  mask,  but  Briihl  pressed  it  over  his  face  with 
his  hand. 

'  Cavaliero  nero ! '  said  the  clown,  ^  what  did  the 
queen  say  to  you  ?     Do  you  know  her  ?  ' 

'  Sono  un  forestiere — Addioy  hissed  Briihl  and 
made  off,  but  the  clown  followed  him.  Presently  he 
met  the  bandit  to  whom  the  clo\vn  whispered  : 

'  Who  is  he  ?  ' 

'  Briihl.' 

'  Ah  ! '  exclaimed  the  clown.  '  I  guessed  it  was  he 
by  the  hatred  I  felt  towards  him.  But  are  you  sure 
it  was  he  ?  ' 


Count  Briihl  69 

'I?  Who  hate  him  more  than  you,  Count?  I 
would  recognise  him  even  in  hell.' 

The  clown  suddenly  darted  forward,  for  he  caught 
sight  of  the  queen.  The  bandit,  thankful,  wandered 
about  without  aim.  The  guests  grew  more  and  more 
animated  and  those  who  were  searching  for  each  other 
could  hardly  move  among  the  dense  crowd.  Laughter 
and  chatting  were  louder  than  the  music.  Briihl 
directed  his  steps  towards  the  apartment  where  the 
Princess  was  receiving  the  people.  A  monk  seized 
his  hand. 

'  If  you  did  not  wish  to  be  recognised,'  said  he  in 
Italian,  'j^ou  have  not  succeeded.  Who  would  not 
recognise  you,  the  Secretary  of  the  Treasury  ? ' 

And  he  laughed. 

*  How  could  they  recognise  me  ?  '  asked  Briihl. 

*  By  your  way  of  walking  and  by  your  beautiful 
dress.' 

Briihl  could  not  be  sure  that  he  recognised  the 
monk  ;  he  disappeared  in  the  crowd.  He  could  have 
sworn  it  was  Padre  Gaurini,  but  could  he  suppose 
that  a  Jesuit  would  be  at  a  fancy  dress  ball  ? 

A  little  disappointed,  he  found  himself  in  a  room 
lighted  with  alabaster  lamps.  Here  a  tall  woman 
struck  him  with  her  fan.  He  recognised  her  and 
had  no  doubt  that  she  knew  also  who  he  was. 

*  Briihl,  accept  my  congratulations,'  said  she. 
'  What  for  ? ' 

*  You  have  already  mounted  very  high,  but  be 
careful,  for  iion  si  va  sano.  You  must  lean  on  the 
arm  of  a  woman,  who  often  raises  a  man  as  though 
he  had  wings.' 

Briihl  sighed. 

*  I  know  for  whom  you  sigh,'  she  continued,  'and 


70  Count   Briihl 

what  there  is  in  your  heart.     But  you  must  forget 
the  ungrateful  queen  and  look  for  another.' 

'  To  search,  in  order  to  be  repulsed  and  despised  ! ' 

*  Only  the  one  who  is  unworthy  of  you  could  despise 
you,  and  such  a  woman  is  not  to  be  regretted.' 

She  bent  close  to  his  ear,  and  having  whispered 
something  in  it,  disappeared  in  the  crowd.  He  passed 
on.  Opposite  him  was  Frances  Kolowrath's  table, 
surrounded  by  young  men.  The  girl  laughing,  her 
parted  lips  showing  her  teeth,  handed  the  glasses  of 
wine.  He  looked  at  her  from  a  distance.  She  was 
tempting  and  graceful,  but  her  cool  coquettishness 
frightened  him.  .  He  stood  for  a  long  while  deep  in 
thought,  and  then  turned  aside. 

Hardly  had  he  sat  down  on  a  chair,  in  order  to  rest 
for  he  was  tired,  when  the  bandit  sat  beside  him. 

*Not  long  ago,'  said  he,  'you  were  flirting  with  a 
queen,  and  now  you  are  thinking  of  that  young  girl. 
Am  I  not  right  ?  ' 

Briihl  shook  his  head  without  answering. 

*  She  is  a  rich  girl,  and  she  has  plenty  of  diamonds. 
— Are  you  not  fond  of  them  ?  ' 

Briihl  turned  his  head  away  and  did  not  answer. 
But  the  bandit  spoke  further. 

'  Look,  what  dainty  hands,  what  round  arms,  what 
a  fresh  face.  It's  a  bite  for  a  minister  if  not  for  a 
king ;  but  Augustus  H  is  too  old,  and  the  Prince  is 
too  pious, — you  may  have  her.  And  after  that,  I 
don't  know  what  might  happen,  for  look  how  she 
smiles  on  twenty  young  men,  and  it's  dreadful  what 
her  eyes  are  saying  !  She  is  the  very  wife  for  such 
a  man  as  you.  They  married  Hasse,  a  great  musician, 
to  Faustina ;  such  an  artist  as  you  must  marry  Frances 
Kolowrath.     See  how  admirably  she   already  plays 


Count   Brlihl  71 

her  part  and  what  a  success  she  will  have  in  the  role 
of  la  grande  coquette  !  ' 

One  could  see  by  an  impatient  movement  that 
Briihl  was  terribly  annoyed,  but  he  did  not  lose 
his  head,  he  did  not  change  his  position,  he  did  not 
look  at  the  bandit ;  he  rose  and  w^ent  off.  His 
tormentor  searched  for  him  in  vain,  he  was  no  longer 
in  the  palace^ 

The  music  played  and  the  masqueraders  danced 
till  daybreak. 

The  last  couple  still  whirled  in  the  King's  apart- 
ments, while,  in  the  chapel  of  the  castle  in  Taschenberg, 
Padre  Guarini  put  ashes  on  the  young  Prince,  his 
consort  and  the  Catholic  court. 


CHAPTER  IV 

Notwithstanding  the  carnival,  notwithstanding  the 
enormous  buildings  in  course  of  construction  with 
which  the  King  tried  to  amuse  himself,  notwithstand- 
ing the  magnificence  by  which  he  was  surrounded, 
Augustus  II  began  to  be  w^earied.  They  wanted 
him  to  marry  for  the  sake  of  distracting  his  thoughts 
— he  yawned  and  laughed ;  he  had  no  wish  for  a 
wedding,  for  they  w^ere  expensive,  and  the  wedding 
worthy  of  such  a  monarch  was  bound  to  cost  much. 
His  foot  pained  him,  he  was  sad.  The  world  had  no 
interest  for  him  ;  he  tasted  of  so  many  pleasures,  that 
at  the  bottom  of  the  cup,  there  remained  only  dregs. 
The  most  beautiful  girls  ceased  to  attract  him,  in  his 
memory  there  passed  in  review  an  endless  number  of 
lovely  forms,  shining  for  a  moment  and  withered  so 
quickly.  The  Princess  Tubonirska  was  old,  the 
Countess  Cosel  locked  up,  the  others  scattered 
throughout  the  world.  Unable  to  be  happy,  he 
wanted  to  be  great.  Therefore  he  sent  servants  to 
Africa  and  built. 

Enormous  barracks  were  built  in  New  Citj^-,  rebuilt 
by  him  in  the  Old  City,  the  Catholic  church  and 
palaces  were  in  course  of  erection. 

The  King  would  go  to  Konigstein  to  look  at  the 
walls  and  find  them  gone  ;  he  would  go  to  Huberts- 
burg  and  be  wearied ;  he  would  give  orders  that  he 
was  to  be  driven  to  Moritzburg  and  there  fiind 
nothing  to  interest  him.     Dresden  simply  bored  him. 


Count   Briihl  73 

Had  anyone  suggested  it  to  him,  he  would  probably 
have  ordered  the  toAvn  to  be  fired,  in  order  to  build 
it  again,  though  the  idea  was  not  new. 

While  he  was  in  Poland  his  affections  were  with 
Dresden,  but  when  he  was  in  Dresden  he  was  longing 
after  Warsaw.  November  the  second,  the  day  of 
St  Hubert  patron  of  hunting,  was  always  celebrated 
with  a  great  display ;  the  two  courts,  that  of  the 
King  and  that  of  the  Prince  went  to  Hubertsburg. 
The  grand  huntsman  of  the  court  was  Herr  von 
Leibnitz,  the  grand  falconer  the  Count  Moszynski. 

But  the  King  found  St  Hubert  too  old-fashioned 
and  the  hunting  monotonous.  He  was  seized  with 
restlessness.  On  New  Year's  day  the  market  at 
Leipzig  attracted  him ;  the  horse  dealers  promised 
to  bring  splendid  horses,  but  the  King  found  they 
were  hacks  ;  and  the  actresses  brought  from  Belgium 
had  false  teeth. 

On  the  sixth  of  January  Augustus  returned  to 
Dresden  for  the  opening  of  the  carnival,  and  at  the 
first  ball  he  perceived  that  the  faces  of  the  women 
were  withered,  that  their  eyes  lacked  fire,  and  their 
lips  were  pale.  He  thought  that  he  would  enjoy 
Poland  better,  therefore  he  left  the  carnival,  for  the 
Prince  and  Padre  Guarini  and  ordered  the  carriages 
to  be  got  ready  to  convey  him  to  Warsaw. 

Briihl  was  in  constant  attendance.  Others  had 
disappeared,  changed  for  fresh  faces ;  but  he,  who 
from  a  page  had  become  the  minister,  was  inde- 
spensable  to  the  King.  The  money  flowed  to  the 
Treasury,  the  heavy  taxes  filled  the  coffers. 

The  noblemen  grumbled,  but  there  was  a  remedy  : 
the  court  was  filled  with  foreigners,  Italians, 
Frenchmen,     Dutch,    Danes,    Prussians,    Bavarians 


74  Count  Briihl 

flourished  at  the  court  and  the  Saxon  noblemen 
returned  to  their  estates  to  make  money  for  the 
King. 

Briihl's  opinion  was  that  his  Majesty  was  right  in 
maintaining  that  those  made  the  best  servants  whose 
whole  career  depended  on  the  favour  of  the  King. 

On  the  tenth  of  January  the  courtyard  of  the 
castle  was  full  of  horses,  carriages  and  people. 
The  Polish  and  Saxon  courts  were  ready  for  the 
journey.  The  rooms  were  filled  with  those  who 
were  to  accompany  the  King.  Augustus  II  was 
taking  leave  of  his  son  and  his  wife. 

The  former  majesty  in  his  face  was  replaced  by 
impatience  and  weariness.  The  Prince  was  tender 
towards  his  father,  while  his  wife,  the  Princess 
Josepha,  was  majestic.  Frederick  looked  into  his 
father's  eyes  and  smiled  sweetly.  Briihl  entered : . 
there  were  some  papers  to  be  signed  and  money 
to  be  taken  for  the  journey. 

The  King  looked  sharply  towards  the  Secretary 
of  the  Treasury  and  asked  : 

*  Briihl,  have  you  the  money  ?  ' 

*  Yes,  your  Majesty  ! '  answered  he  bowing. 
The  lord's  face  brightened. 

*T(Ook,'  said  he  to  his  son,  '  what  a  servant !  I 
commend  him  to  you — he  is  the  man  wh<D  relieved 
me  of  my  money  troubles.  Remember !  I  am 
indebted  to  him  for  the  order  that  prevails.' 

Frederick  looked  into  his  father's  eyes,  as  though 
wishing  to  show  him  that  he  promised  to  obey. 

'Had  I  a  few  more  men  like  him  in  Poland,' 
continued  the  King,  'I  should  have  restored  order 
in  the  republic  and  introduced  ,the  same  system  as 
I  have  in  Saxony.     Ah,  those  Polish,  so-called  friends 


Count  Bftihl  75 

and  faithful  servants,  suck  as  Lipski,  Hozynsz  and 
others,  are  all  afraid  of  the  nobility,  and  they  fool 
me.  But  let  us  be  patient,  I  shall  end  all  that, 
several  heads  shall  fall  off  and  then  everything  will 
be  quiet.  I  cannot  bear  a  public  that  dares  to 
murmur  Avhen  I  command. — Enough  of  it.' 

The  interrupted  leave-taking  was  continued: 
Frederick  kissed  his  father's  hand.  Lackeys,  pages 
and  servants  were  ready  in  the  ante-room.  The 
officials  and  clergy  stood  quietly  in  a  corner.  The 
King  smiled  to  all.  He  repeated  to  the  huntsmen  his 
order  to  take  care  of  the  twelve  bisons  brought  from 
Bialowiezer  and  kept  in  Kreirn  near  Moritzburg  and 
moved  towards  a  carriage  standing  ready. 

The  postillions  were  already  mounted ;  in  the 
courtyard  stood  bareheaded  burghers,  at  whom  the 
King  only  glanced  and  whom  he  commanded  to  pay 
their  taxes :  a  moment  later  everything  was  quiet  in 
the  castle  and  in  Dresden. 

Everyone  had  plenty  of  time  to  rest  until  the 
King  returned,  when  it  would  fall  to  their  lot  to 
amuse  him  again. 

The  whole  retinue,  escorted  by  a  detachment  of 
cavalry,  had  already  reached  the  bridge,  while 
Briihl's  carriage  still  stood  in  the  courtyard  of  the 
castle.  The  King's  favourite  came  out  thoughtfully 
and  saw  Sulkowski.  Briihl's  face  brightened  at. 
once ;  he  seized  Sulkowski's  arm  and  conducted 
him  to  one  of  the  nearest  rooms. 

Briihl's  face  expressed  the  tenderest  friendship. 
Sulkowski  was  indifferent. 

'  How  happy  I  am,'  said  Briihl,  '  to  be  able  once 
more  to  win  a  place  in  your  affections.'  And  his 
voice  was  as  sweet  as  his  words. 


76  Count   Briihl 

*  Briihl,  listen  ! '  Sulkowski  interrupted.  '  I  also 
remind  you  of  our  agreement.  In  good  fortune  or 
bad,  we  shall  remain  friends.' 

*  Do  you  need  to  remind  me  ? '  exclaimed  Briihl. 
I  love  you,  I  respect  you,  I  am  grateful  to  you,  I 

am  your  friend.' 

*  Give  me  a  proof  of  it.' 

*  As  soon  as  I  have  opportunity !  Pray,  give  me 
that  opportunity !  Dear  Count,  I  am  yours !  Do 
not  forget  me  !     You  know  what  I  mean — ' 

'  Fraiilein  Kolowrath  ! '  said  Sulkowski  laughing. 
*  Grand  hien  vous  fasse,  you  shall  have  her.  Her 
mother  is  in  your  favour.' 

'But  she?' 

'  Oh  !  don't  be  afraid,  nobody  will  stand  in  your  way. 
One  must  be  as  brave  as  you  to  attain  to  such  bliss.' 

'  I  missed  a  greater  and  the  only  bliss,'  said  Briihl, 
sighing. 

Sulkowski  slapped  him  on  the  shoulder  and  said 
laughing : 

'  I  see  that  Moszynski  is  right  in  hating  you.' 

'  Nonsense  ! '  protested  Briihl. 

'  Oh !  don't  deny  it.  It's  difficult  to  conceal 
anything  at  court.  You  and  the  Countess  Moszynski 
are  better  friends  than  if  you  were  married.' 

Briihl  shrugged  his  shoulders. 
.     '  My  heart  owns  only  Frances  Kolowrath.' 

*  Her  hand  is  waiting  for  you.' 

'  Her  mother  herself  will  propose  her  to  you.  And 
it  is  time  that  Frances  was  married,  for  her  eyes  shine 
strangely.' 

'  Like  stars  ! '  Briihl  exclaimed. 

'  What  would  the  Countess  Moszynski  say  to  that  ?  ' 

Suddenly  Briihl  seized  Sulkowski's  hand. 


Count   Briihl  77 

*  Count,'  said  he,  'do  not  forget  me  and  speak  in 
my  favour  to  the  Prince.  I  fear  whether  I  sufficiently 
showed  my  respect  and  attachment  to  him,  as  well 
as  towards  the  pure  and  saintly  Princess. — Tell  him — ' 

'You  speak  for  us  to  the  King,'  interrupted  the 
Count,  'and  I  will  do  the  same  for  you  with  the 
Prince.  And  then,  my  Briihl,  you  will  not  be  with- 
out protectors.  Padre  Guarini  tries  to  convert  you, 
the  Countess  thinks  of  you  as  her  future  son-in-law, 
and  I  should  not  be  surprised  if  jou  had  still 
another  friend  at  court.' 

'  All  that  is  nothing  if  you  are  not  with  me,'  said 
Briihl. — '  I  would  give  up  Guarini  and  Kolowrath 
in  your  favour.' 

'  But  you  would  not  give  up  Moszynski,'  said 
Sulkowski  laughing.  'And  now  good  luck  to  your 
journey  ;  remember  me  in  Poland  to  all  my  country- 
men.' 

'  Not  to  their  wives  and  daughters  ?  ' 

'Yes,  should  some  of  them  ask  after  me — but 
I  doubt  it.     I  prefer  German  women.' 

'I  too  ! '  said  Briihl. 

They  had  already  reached  the  door. 

'  Eh,  hien,  a  la  vie,  a  la  mort! ' 

They  shook  hands.  Briihl  hastened  towards  the 
carriage.  At  the  farther  end  of  the  courtyard 
Padre  Guarini  was  standing,  making  the  sign  of 
the  cross  over  Briihl  as  he  drove  off,  following  his 
master  to  Warsaw, 


CHAPTER  V 

It  was  the  beginning  of  January  1733.  In  the 
morning  Prince  Frederick  returned  from  hunting 
at  Hubertsburg.  Sulkowski  was  with  him.  In 
the  evening  the  incomparable  Faustina  was  going 
to  sing  in  the  opera.  The  Prince  was  as  great 
an  admirer  of  her  voice  and  beauty  as  his  father. 
The  singer  would  tyrannise  over  her  competitors, 
would  persecute  those  who  had  not  the  good  fortune 
to  please  her,  and  when  she  deigned  to  sing  there 
was  quiet  in  the  hall  as  in  a  church ;  if  anyone 
dared  to  sneeze  he  might  be  sure  that  she  would 
become  his  bitterest  foe.  The  opera  called  '  Cleophia  ' 
was  announced  and  Prince  Frederick  enjoyed  the 
prospect. 

In  the  afternoon,  the  Prince,  dressed  in  a  splendid 
robe  de  ehambre,  was  sitting  in  an  armchair,  digesting 
with  that  pleasant  feeling  produced  by  a  strong 
stomach  and  excellent  cooking. 

Sulkowski  stood  opposite  him.  From  time  to 
time  the  Prince  would  look  at  his  friend,  smile, 
and  smoke  on  in  silence. 

The  friend  and  servant  looked  with  pleasure  on 
his  happy  master,  sharing  his  happiness  silently. 

The  Prince's  face  beamed,  but  it  was  his  habit, 
when  in  a  happy  mood,  to  speak  very  little  and 
to  think.  Nobody  knew  what  about.  Sometimes 
he  would  raise  his  drooping  head,  look  at  Sulkowski 
and  say : 

73 


Count   Briihl  79 

*H'm!  Sulkowski?' 

*  I  am  here.' 

Then  he  would  nod  and  that  was  the  end  of  it. 
A  quarter  of  an  hour  would  elapse  and  the  Prince 
would  call  him  again  by  his  Christian  name,  or 
caressingly  in  the  Italian  language.  The  Count 
would  reply  as  before  that  he  was  there  and  the 
eloquent  silence  would  follow. 

The  Prince  spoke  but  little  and  only  when  obliged 
to  do  so.  He  disliked  anything  unexpected.  His 
life  must  flow  quietly,  monotonously.  The  afternoon 
hours,  when  he  only  received  his  most  familiar 
friends,  were  those  he  enjoyed  best.  In  the  fore- 
noon he  was  obliged  to  give  audience,  to  listen, 
to  talk,  to  sign  papers.  After  such  efforts  the 
afternoon  siesta  was  delightful  to  him.  When 
there  was  no  opera  he  would  go  to  Princess  Josepha, 
listen  to  some  music,  and  the  day  would  end  with  a 
supper. 

Never  before  did  the  courtiers  have  a  lord  more 
easy  to  entertain.  He  was  satisfied  though  one 
day  resembled  another  as  two  drops  of  water. 

That  day  the  afternoon  siesta  had  just  begun ; 
the  Prince  was  smoking  a  second  pipe,  when 
Sulkowski,  noticing  something  through  the  window, 
hesitated  a  moment  and  then  went  towards  the 
door.     The  Prince's  eyes  followed  him. 

'  Sulkowski ! '  he  said  softly. 

^I  return  at  once,'  answered  the  Count,  opening 
the  door  and  disappearing  through  it.  In  the  ante- 
room two  pages  and  some  servants  were  waiting. 

'Don't  let  anybody  in  without  my  special  per- 
mission,' said  Sulkowski. 

All  heads  bowed. 


80 


Count  Briihl 


Sulkowski  went  out,  rushed  down  the  stairs,  and 
stopped  in  the  doorway  petrified. 

'  Briihl  ?     You  here  ?  ' 

Wrapped  in  a  fur  cloak  covered  with  snow,  cold, 
tired,  pale  and  troubled,  there  stood  the  favourite  of 
Augustus  II.  In  the  courtyard  one  might  have  seen 
a  carriage  with  two  tired  horses  ;  the  postillions  had 
already  dismounted  and  were  also  so  tired  that  they 
could  hardly  keep  on  their  feet. 

Briihl  did  not  answer :  he  made  him  understand 
by  his  look  that  he  wished  to  enter  and  to  rest.  This 
sudden  arrival  had  something  so  mysterious  about 
it,  that  Sulkowski,  being  very  much  troubled  about 
it,  led  the  way  to  a  room  situated  on  the  ground  floor. 
The  servants  recognised  Briihl,  and  pressed  for- 
ward, but  he  dismissed  them  with  a  wave  of  the  hand 
and  entered  the  room  with  Sulkowski.  Briihl  quickly 
divested  himself  of  his  furs.  The  Count  stood 
waiting. 

'For  Heaven's  sake,  Briihl,  what  news  do  you 
bring  ? ' 

Briihl  sat  down  on  a  chair  as  though  not  having 
heard  the  question,  and  leaned  his  sorrowful  head 
on  his  hand.  The  favourite  of  the  Prince,  uneasy 
and  impatient,  stood  before  him,  but  pride  prevented 
him  from  insisting. — He  waited. 

Briihl  rose  and  sighed,  looked  around,  wrung  his 
hands  and  cried  : 

'  My  most  gracious  lord,  the  King,  is  dead  ! ' 

Over  Sulkowski's  face  there  passed  like  lightning 
an  expression  difficult  to  define — fear  and  joy  mixed. 
He  moved  as  though  about  to  run,  but  stopped. 

'Nobody  come  before  me  from  Warsaw?'  asked 
Briihl. 


Count  Briihl 


81 


*  Nobody.' 

*  Then  the  Prince  knows  nothing  ?  ' 

*  No,  he  does  not  even  suspect  anything,'  said 
Sulkowski.  '  The  Prince  must  be  notified  at  once,' 
continued  the  Count.  *But  tell  me,  how  was  it? 
The  King  was  in  good  health.' 

Briihl  sighed  pitifully. 

*0n  the  sixteenth  we  came  to  Warsaw,'  he  said 
quietly.  '  The  road  was  most  abominable  :  in  some 
places  snow  drifts,  in  others  mud.  The  King  was 
tired  and  impatient,  but  catching  sight  of  Warsaw, 
his  face  brightened  up.  We  sent  couriers  ahead ; 
the  reception  was  splendid  notwithstanding  the 
wretched  weather,  the  cannons  boomed,  the  regiment 
of  musketeers  was  splendid.  The  carriage  stopped 
at  the  door  of  the  Saxon  Palace.  As  the  King 
alighted  he  knocked  his  foot  against  the  step,  in  the 
place  which  has  troubled  him  continually  since  Weiss 
amputated  his  big  toe.  We  noticed  that  he  grew 
pale  and  leaned  on  his  stick.  Two  pages  ran  to  help 
him,  and  leaning  on  them  he  entered  the  palace, 
where  the  clergy,  the  lords  and  the  ladies  awaited 
him  in  large  numbers.  The  King  was  obliged  to 
sit  down  immediately  and  he  told  the  Grrand  Marshal 
to  shorten  the  reception  as  he  did  not  feel  well.  As 
soon  as  he  entered  the  chamber  he  ordered  Dr  Weiss 
to  be  called,  complaining  that  he  felt  his  foot  hot  and 
wet.  They  cut  the  boot ;  it  was  full  of  blood.  Weiss 
grew  pale :  the  foot  was  already  swollen  and 
discoloured ;  yet  notwithstanding  that — ' 

^  Cut  it  short,'  cried  Sulkowski.  '  Someone  might 
tell  the  Prince  that  you  have  arrived.' 

Briihl  came  near  to  him. 

*  Count,'   said   he,  '  I — we   should   come    to    some 


82  Count  BrUhl 

understanding  before  we  venture  to  do  anything. 
The  Prince  loA^ed  his  father  dearly,  the  shock  he  will 
receive — will  it  not  be  necessary  to  prepare  him  for 
the  news  ? ' 

^Yes,  buthow?' 

*  My  advice  is,'  said  Briihl,  '  that  we  should  do 
nothing  without  first  consulting  Padre  Guarini  and 
the  Princess.' 

Sulkowski  looked  at  him  with  ill-disguised  dis- 
content. 

^  But  it  seems  to  me,'  said  he,  '  that  the  Prince 
ueeds  neither  the  Princess's  help  nor  the  spiritual 
consolation  of  his  confessor.' 

'  I  should  think — '  said  Briihl,  and  suddenly  con- 
fused he  looked  towards  the  door  which  opened  and 
Padre  Guarini  appeared.  It  was  difficult  to  guess  how 
he  could  have  learned  so  quickly  of  Briihl's  arrival. 
He  walked  straight  to  him  ;  his  face  was  sad  although 
it  was  difficult  for  him  to  change  its  naturally  cheerful 
expression  ;  he  opened  his  arms  as  though  he  would 
like  to  embrace  him.  Briihl  would  probably  have  kissed 
his  hand  had  there  not  been  a  witness.  Therefore 
he  only  advanced  and  drooping  his  head  said  : 

'  The  King  is  dead.' 

*  Eviva  il  re ! '  answered  the  Jesuit  quietly,  raising 
his  eyes.  '  God's  designs  are  impenetrable.  Does 
the  Prince  know  it  ?  ' 

*Not  yet,'  said  Sulkowski  drily,  looking  at  the 
Jesuit  askance. 

Guarini  purposely  averted  his  gaze. 

*My  wish,'  said  Briihl,  *is  to  spare  the  Prince's 
feelings  and  take  the  advice  of  the  Princess.' 

Guarini  nodded  and  Sulkowski  shrugged  his 
shoulders  and  looked  at  Briihl  with  discontent. 


Count  Briihl  83 

*  Then  let  us  alKgo  tofthe  Princess,'  he  said,  'for 
there  is  not  a  moment  to  be  lost.' 

Briihl  glanced  at  his  travelling  clothes. 

*  I  can't  go  as  I  am,'  said  he.  '  You  both  go  to  the 
Princess ;  I  shall  order  my  clothes  to  be  brought 
here  and  dress  first.' 

Sulkowski  agreed  in  silence  to  the  proposition, 
Guarini  nodded  in  the  affirmative,  and  they  turned 
towards  the  door.  Briihl  threw  himself  into  a  chair, 
as  though  unable  to  stand  on  his  feet. 

Sulkowski  followed  the  Jesuit  quite  unwillingly, 
leaving  Briihl  who  leaned  his  head  on  his  hand  and 
became  thoughtful. 

This  resting  and  thinking  did  not  last  very  long  ; 
as  soon  as  the  two  disappeared  in  the  dark  corridor 
of  the  castle,  Briihl  rose  quickly,  hurried  to  the  door, 
opened  it,  and  looked  into  the  ante-room. 

There  stood  a  lackey  as  if  waiting  for  orders. 

'  Send  page  Berlepsch  at  once  to  me.' 

The  servant  went  off  and  five  minutes  later  a  boy, 
wearing  the  uniform  of  the  King's  pages,  rushed  in 
out  of  breath. 

Briihl,  standing  near  the  door,  put  his  hand  on  the 
boy's  shoulder. 

'Berlepsch,  I  hope  you  have  confidence  in  me  ; 
don't  ask  any  questions  but  go  to  the  Prince's 
apartments,  and  on  your  own  responsibility,  under- 
stand, on  your  own  responsibility  tell  the  Prince  that 
I  have  arrived.  Listen  !  If  anything  prevented  you 
all  would  be  useless.' 

The  intelligent  boy  looked  into  Briihl's  eyes,  did 
not  say  a  word,  and  went  out.  Briihl  again  sat  at 
the  table  and  covered  his  face  with  his  hands. 

It  was  quiet  about  him,  but  he  trembled  at  the 


84  Count   Briihl 

slightest  noise.  There  was  some  stir  and  bustle  on 
the  upper  floor,  and  on  the  stairs  one  could  hear 
someone  rushing  down ;  a  good-looking  man,  with 
an  ironical  smile,  appeared  in  the  doorway,  and  said : 

'His  Royal  Highness,  the  Prince,  having  learned 
by  an  accident  about  your  arrival,  commands  you  at 
once  to  bring  him  the  dispatches.' 

Briihl  pretended  to  be  embarrassed. 

'  I  am  not  dressed.' 

'Come  as  you  are.' 

'  Such  is  the  order  ?  ' 

'  Word  for  word.' 

Briihl  rose  as  if  he  were  forced,  but  he  was 
satisfied  inwardly. 

They  both  went  silently  upstairs. 

The  door  opened,  Briihl  entered  slowly  with  such 
a  sorrowful  expression  on  his  face,  that  the  Prince 
dropped  his  pipe  and  rose. 

The  door  closed  and  Briihl  fell  on  his  knees. 

*I  bring  to  Your  Majesty  the  saddest  news,  but 
first  bow  down  at  the  feet  of  the  new  King.  Our 
most  gracious  lord,  the  King,  is  dead.' 

Frederick  stood  for  a  while  as  if  turned  into  a 
block  of  stone  ;  he  covered  his  face.  There  was  a 
moment  of  silence  ;  at  length  Frederick  gave  Briihl 
his  hand  to  be  kissed  and  made  a  sign  to  him  to  rise. 

'  Briihl,  how  and  when  did  it  happen  ?  ' 

'  On  the  first  day  of  February,  the  King  Augustus 
the  Great  died  in  my  arms  and  entrusted  me  with 
his  last  will,  with  the  jewels  of  the  Crown  and  secret 
papers.  I,  myself,  brought  the  jewels  and  the  papers 
and  I  deposit  them  at  the  feet  of  your  Majesty.' 

Frederick  again  gave  him  his  hand  to  be  kissed ; 
Briihl  bent  very  low  and  pretended  to  be  crying; 


Count   Briihl  85 

covering  his  eyes  with  a  handkerchief,  he  sobbed. 
The  new  King  also  took  out  a  handkerchief  and 
began  to  weep  for  his  father,  whom  he  loved  and 
respected. 

'  Briihl,  tell  me,  how  did  this  misfortune  occur  ? ' 
he  said  quietly. 

In  a  muffled  voice,  trying  to  master  his  emotion, 
Briihl  narrated  the  circumstances  of  the  illness,  its 
course,  and  told  of  the  King's  patience  and  peace  at 
the  moment  of  death.  At  length  he  took  out  a 
letter  and  handed  it  to  Frederick,  who  impatiently 
tore  open  the  envelope.  After  having  read  it,  he 
kissed  it.  j 

The  letter  contained  the  blessing  and  recommenda- 
tion of  his  most  faithful  and  best  servant,  the 
messenger  of  his  last  will.  Frederick  looked  at 
Briihl  and  sighed. 

'I  will  do  as  my  father  advises  and  commands 
me.' 

The  letter  was  still  lying  on  Frederick's  knees, 
when  the  door  leading  to  the  Princess's  rooms  opened, 
and  there  entered  Josepha  dressed  in  black,  Sulkowski 
and  Guarini. 

How  surprised  they  were  at  seeing  Frederick 
crying,  Briihl  in  his  travelling  clothes  standing  at 
the  door,  and  the  opened  letter ! 

Frederick,  still  sobbing,  threw  himself  into  his 
wife's  arms ;  she  began  to  cry  also,  according  to  the 
Spanish  etiquette  prescribed  to  i-ulers  and  their 
courtiers  as  the  form  of  sorrow  and  expression  of 
grief. 

Sulkowski  looked  at  Briihl  with  disapproval  and 
whispered  to  him  : 

'  You  told  me,  you  would  wait  for  me/ 


SQ  Count  Briihl 

^  Someone  betrayed  the  secret  of  my  arrival ;  they 
called  me  ;  I  was  obliged  to  obey.' 

'  Who  did  that  ?  ' 

^Watzdorf; 

Sulkowski  seemed  to  be  trying  to  remember  the 
name. 

The  five  people  gathered  in  that  room  made  an 
interesting  group.  Frederick  alone  was  really 
sorrowful.  Accustomed  to  respect  and  love  his 
father,  overwhelmed  by  grief  and  the  fear  of  the 
burden  that  now  fell  on  his  shoulders,  Frederick's 
face  was  very  much  changed.  Usually  serene  and 
quiet,  it  was  now  twisted  with  grief  which  he  could 
not  conceal.  Josepha's  sorrow  was  more  simulated 
than  true  ;  she  never  forgot  for  a  moment  her  dignity 
and  etiquette.  Sulkowski  was  thoughtful  and 
gloomy,  as  a  man  who,  coming  into  power,  calculates 
how  to  begin.  His  great  self-esteem  never  left  him 
even  in  the  presence  of  the  lady,  to  whom  his  respect 
was  due. 

Padre  Guarini  bent  his  head,  closed  his  eyes, 
and  twitched  his  face  with  an  expression  well 
assumed  for  the  moment.  Briihl  while  not  forgetting 
that  he  should  appear  to  be  overwhelmed  by  sorrow, 
could  not  abstain  from  glancing  from  time  to  time 
at  those  present,  especially  at  Sulkowski.  He 
seemed  to  see  an  adversary. 

While  the  Princess  tried  to  comfort  her  husband, 
Sulkowski  mustered  up  courage  and  coming  nearer 
proposed  that  he  should  call  the  dignitaries  for  a 
council  and  announce  to  the  capital  and  the  country, 
by  ordering  the  bells  to  be  rung,  that  Augustus  H 
was  dead. 

Josepha  looked  at  the  intruding  adviser  with  some 


Count  Briihl  87 

aversion,  whispered  sometliing  to  her  husband,  and 
majestically  directed  her  steps  towards  the  same 
door  through  which  she  had  entered  a  short  time 
before,  Guarini  following  her. 

Those  who  remained  were  silent  for  a  time. 
Briihl  waited  for  orders  which  the  new  King  did 
not  dare  to  give ;  Sulkowski  gave  Briihl  to  under- 
stand that  he  had  better  leave  them. 

Briihl  hesitated,  and  then  he  left  the  room. 
Frederick  did  not  notice  him  go  out.  They 
remained  alone,  till  suddenly  Frederick  took  the 
handkerchief  from  his  eyes  and  said  : 

'Where  is  Briihl?* 

'He  went  out.* 

'He  must  not  leave  me.  Pray  command  him  to 
stay  here.* 

Sulkowski  wished  to  protest,  but  then  he  opened 
the  door,  whispered  through  it  and  returned. 

'  One  must  bear  God's  will  as  a  man  and  king,* 
said  he  familiarly.  '  The  King  has  no  time  for 
sorrow.* 

Frederick  only  made  a  gesture. 

'  The  council  shall  be  called  at  once.* 

'  Then  go  and  preside  at  it ;  I  can't,'  said  the  King. 
'  Call  Briihl  here.*  ^ 

'  But  why  is  Briihl  necessary  ? '  said  Sulkowski  in 
a  tone  of  reproach. 

'He?  In  his  arms  my  father  died.  Father 
recommended  him  to  me,  I  wish  to  have  him,  let 
him  come.' 

'They  have  sent  for  him,'  Sulkowski  said 
shrugging  his  shoulders  impatiently. 

'Joseph,  don't  be  angry,*  said  Frederick  in  a 
plaintive  tone. 


88 


Count  Briihl 


As  he  said  this  the  bells  began  to  ring  mournfully 
in  the  churches  of  the  capital  of  Saxony.  Frederick 
kneeled  and  prayed.  Sulkowski  followed  his  example. 
One  after  the  other  the  bells  rang  out,  the  solemn 
sounds  forming  a  gloomy  choir,  accompanied  by  the 
whispering  of  the  people,  whispering  to  each  other 
the  sad  news. 


CHAPTER  VI 

While  the  preceding  events  were  taking  place  in 
the  castle,  preparations  were  in  progress  at  the 
opera  for  the  performance  of  '  Cleophila.' 

The  splendour  with  which  the  operas  were  put 
upon  the  stage,  a  hundred  horses  and  camels 
appearing  with  numberless  artistes  in  gorgeous 
oriental  costumes,  and  the  fairy-like  effects  produced 
by  elaborate  machinery,  combined  to  attract  as 
large  an  audience  as  did  the  charming  voice  of 
Signora  Faustina  Bordoni. 

Faustina,  the  first  singer  of  those  times,  famous 
for  her  victory  over  the  equally  famous  Cuzzoni, 
was  prima  donna  in  the  full  meaning  of  the  word, 
on  the  stage,  behind  the  scenes,  and  beyond. 
Signora  Bordoni,  although  married  to  the  great  com- 
poser, Johanet  Hasse,  could  forget  him.  The  marriage 
had  been  broken  the  next  day  by  command  of  the 
King,  who  sent  the  musician  to  Italy  to  study  there. 

As  the  carriage  bringing  Briihl  and  the  sad  news 
of  the  death  of  Augustus  the  Strong  neared  the  castle 
Faustina  was  sitting  in  the  small  drawing-room 
arranged  for  her  near  the  stage,  and  having  removed 
her  furs  was  about  to  issue  her  orders. 

The  prima  donna  was  not  very  young,  but  notwith- 
standing her  Italian  beauty,  which  blossoms  and 
withers  quickly,  she  preserved  her  voice,  the  charm 
of  her  figure,  and  the  beauty  of  her  face,  the  features 
of  Juno  with  which  nature  had  endowed  her. 

89 


90 


Count  Briihl 


She  was  not  a  delicate  woman,  but  strong  and 
majestic,  witli  the  form  of  a  statue,  as  though  made 
from  one  block  by  the  energetic  chisel  of  Michael 
Angelo. 

Her  beauty  was  equal  to  her  voice.  Everything 
was  in  harmony  with  her  character  ;  her  head  of  a 
goddess,  bosom  of  a  nymph,  hand  of  a  Bacchante, 
figure  of  an  Amazon,  hands  and  feet  of  a  princess, 
abundant  black  hair  like  the  mane  of  an  Arabian 
horse.  In  her  face,  notwithstanding  the  classical 
beauty  of  her  features,  there  was  more  strength  than 
womanly  sweetness.  Not  infrequently  her  black 
eyebrows  contracted  in  a  frown,  her  nostrils  dilated 
with  anger,  and  behind  her  pink  lips  her  white 
teeth  gleamed  angrily. 

Her  manner  was  that  of  a  woman  accustomed  to 
command,  to  receive  homage,  fearing  nought,  daring 
even  to  hurl  her  thunderbolts  at  crowned  heads. 

The  drawing-room  was  elegantly  furnished  with 
gold,  the  furniture  upholstered  with  blue  satin, 
and  the  dressing-table,  covered  with  lace,  was 
loaded  with  silver  and  china.  The  wardrobes  for 
her  dresses  were  ornamented  with  bronze,  and  from 
the  ceiling  descended  a  china  chandelier  like  a 
basket  of  flowers. 

Three  servants  stood  at  the  door  waiting  for  orders. 
One  could  recognise  that  two  of  them  were  Italian 
women,  for  they  had  not  given  up  their  national 
coifure.  Faustina  glanced  at  the  clock,  threw  her- 
self on  the  sofa,  and,  half  leaning  and  half  sitting, 
played  with  the  silk  sash  of  her  large,  silk  rohe  de 
chawhre. 

The  servants  were  silent. 

There  was  a  knock  at  the  door.     Faustina  did  not 


Count   Brlihl  91 

move,  but  glancing  towards  a  good-looking  young 
man  who  appeared  in  the  doorway,  greeted  him  with 
a  smile. 

It  was  the  tenor,  Angelo  Monticelli.  It  was  easy 
to  see  that  he  was  also  Italian ;  but  while  Faustina 
was  the  personification  of  Italian  energy  and  liveli- 
ness, he  was  the  embodiment  of  almost  womanly 
charm.  Young,  remarkably  handsome,  with 
long  black  hair  falling  over  his  shoulders,  he 
seemed  to  be  born  for  the  roles  of  innamorati,  of 
lovers  and  gods.  The  classical  Apollo,  playing 
the  lute,  could  not  have  been  more  charming.  Only 
he  lacked  the  pride  and  energy  of  the  god. 

He  bent  to  salute  Faustina,  who  hardly  nodded 
to  him. 

'  Angelo ! '  said  Faustina,  *  you  run  after  those 
horrid  German  women — you  will  lose  your  voice. 
Fie  !  How  you  can  see  a  woman  in  those  German 
girls  !     Look  at  their  hands  and  feet ! ' 

*  Signora ! '  said  Angelo,  placing  one  hand  on  his 
chest  and  looking  into  a  mirror,  for  he  was  in  love 
with  himself.     '  Signora,  non  e  vero ! ' 

'You  would  tell  me,  by  way  of  excuse,'  said 
Faustina  laughing,  '  that  they  run  after  you.' 

*  Not  that  either ;  I  am  longing  for  the  Italian 
sky,  Italian  faces,  and  the  heart  of  an  Italian  woman 
— I  wither  here — ' 

Faustina  glanced  at  him  and  made  a  sign  to  the 
servants  to  leave  the  room. 

'  Ingrato ! '  whispered  she.  '  We  all  pet  you,  and 
yet  you  complain.* 

Then  she  turned  her  gaze  to  the  ceiling  taking 
no  notice  of  Monticelli's  devouring  eyes. 

*  Has  Abbuzzi  come  ?  '  she  asked. 


92  Count   Briihl 

'  I  don't  know.' 

'  You  do  not  wish  to  know  about  Abbuzzi ! ' 

'  I  don't  care  about  her.' 

'  When  you  are  talking  to  me  !  But  I  am  neither 
jealous  of  her  nor  your  Apollo-like  beauty ;  only 
I  hate  her,  and  I  can't  bear  you.' 

'  Why  not  ?  ' 

*  Because  you  are  a  doll.  Look  at  the  clock  and 
go  and  dress.' 

As  she  spoke  a  new  face  appeared  in  the  doorway  ; 
it  was  the  cheerful  Puttini. 

*  My  humblest  homage,'  said  he.  '  But  perchance 
I  interrupt  a  duet ;  excuse  me.' 

He  glanced  at  Angek).  Faustina  laughed  and 
shrugged  her  shoulders. 

*  We  sing  duets  only  on  the  stage,'  said  she. 
'  You  are  all  late  to-day.     Go  and  dress.' 

She  jumped  down  from  the  sofa  ;  Angelo  moved 
towards  the  door ;  Puttini  laughed  and  remained 
where  he  was. 

'My* costume  is  ready,  I  shall  not  be  late.' 

The  door  opened  noisily  and  in  rushed  a  man 
dressed  in  black ;  his  round  face,  with  small  nose 
and  low  forehead,  expressed  fear. 

Faustina  who  was  in  continual  dread  of  fire, 
shrieked  : 

'  Holy  Virgin,  help  !     Fire  !     Fire  ! ' 

'Where?     Where?' 

The  new-comer,  much  surprised,  stood  still.  His 
name  was  Klein,  a  member  of  the  orchestra, 
Faustina's  great  admirer,  a  friend  of  the  Italians, 
and  an  enthusiastic  musician. 

His  Christian  name  was  Johan,  Faustina  changed 
it  into  Giovanni  and  called  him  Piccolo. 


Count   Briihl  93 

'  Piccolo  !  are  you  mad  ?  What  is  the  matter  with 
you  ?  '  she  cried. 

'  The  King  is  dead  !  King  Augustus  the  Strong 
died  in  Warsaw.' 

At  this,  Faustina  screamed  piercingly,  covering 
her  face  with  her  hands ;  the  rest  stood  silent. 
Klein  left  the  door  open  and  the  actors  began  to 
crowd  in.  The  great  majority  of  them  were  already 
half  dressed  for  the  performance  of  *  Cleophila.' 
Abbuzzi  rushed  in  with  naked  bosom.  Her  beauty 
was  striking  even  when  compared  with  Faustina ; 
only  she  was  small  and  still  more  lively. 

Catherine  Piluga,  with  a  crowd  of  Italians  and 
French,  half  dressed,  with  frightened  faces,  folloAved 
Abbuzzi.  All  pressed  round  Faustina  exclaiming 
in  all  possible  voices :  *  II  re  e  morto ! '  Their 
faces  expressed  more  fear  than  sorrow.  Faustina 
alone  was  silent,  and  did  not  seem  much  afraid 
of  the  news.  All  looked  at  her  hoping  that  she 
would  speak,  but  she  would  not  betray  her  thoughts. 

The  bells  resounded  throughout  the  whole  city. 

'  There  will  be  no  performance  to-night,  go  home  !  * 
she  cried  imperatively. 

But  they  did  not  obey  her  ;  frightened,  they  stood 
as  though  rivetted  to  the  spot. 

*  Go  home  ! '  repeated  Faustina.  ^  We  have  nothing 
to  do  here  ;  we  shall  not  play  for  some  time.' 

The  crowd  began  to  withdraw,  murmuring.  As 
soon  as  the  last  had  gone,  Abbuzzi  also  disappeared, 
and  Faustina  lay  on  the  sofa  not  seeming  to  notice 
an  elderly  gentleman  standing  quietly  apart. 

He  coughed  softly. 

'Ah!     It's  you?' 

*  Yes,'  said  the  German,  indifferently. 


94  Count   Briihl 

It  was  Hasse,  Faustina's  husband. 

'  What  are  you  thinking  about  ?  About  a  new 
Requiem  for  the  dead  King  ?  ' 

'You  have  guessed  almost  right,'  answered  the 
composer.  *  I  was  wondering  if  the  mass :  Sulla 
morte  d'un  eroe,  which  I  composed  some  time  ago, 
would  be  suitable  for  the  funeral  service.  I  am  a 
musician,  and  even  grief  turns  with  me  to  music' 

'But  what  will  become  of  us  now?'  sighed 
Faustina. 

'  Chi  lo  sa?^ 

They  were  both  silent ;  Hasse  walked  to  and  fro, 
then  stopped  in  front  of  his  wife. 

*  I  think  we  need  not  fear,'  said  he,  '  for  there  is 
hardly  anyone  who  could  be  put  in  my  place,  not 
even  such  a  one  as  Popora,  and  there  is  absolutely  no 
one  to  rival  Faustina.' 

'  Flatterer,'  said  the  Italian.  '  Faustina's  voice  is 
like  a  candle  that  burns  brightly — it  will  be  ex- 
tinguished one  day.' 

'  Not  very  soon,'  answered  the  thoughtful  German, 
'  you  know  that  better  than  I  do.' 

'But  that  quiet,  pious,  modest,  ruled-by-his-wife 
new  King — ' 

Hasse  laughed. 

^E  un  fanatico  per  la  musica,  e  fanatieo  per  la 
Faustina.' 

*  Chi  lo  saf  whispered  the  singer  thoughtfully, 
*  Well,  if  he  is  not  all  that  you  say,  we  must  make 
him  so.'  A  bright  idea  flashed  through  her  brain, 
*Poor  old  Augustus  is  dead,'  said  she  in  a  lowered 
voice.  'I  should  like  to  make  a  beautiful  speech 
over  his  grave,  but  I  can't.' 

Hasse  shrugged  his  shoulders. 


Count  Briihl  95 

*  There  will  be  plenty  of  funeral  speeches,'  he  said 
almost  in  a  whisper,  *  but  history  will  not  be  indulgent 
to  him.  He  was  a  magnificent  tyrant  and  lived  for 
himself  only.     Saxony  will  breathe  more  freely.' 

*  You  are  unjust,'  Faustina  exclaimed.  *  Could 
Saxony  be  more  happy,  more  brilliant,  more  favoured  ? 
The  glory  of  that  hero  is  reflected  in  her.' 

Hasse  smiled  painfully. 

*He  may  have  looked  like  a  hero,  when  "from  his 
box  in  the  opera,  covered  with  diamonds,  he  smiled 
upon  you,  but  the  whole  country  paid  for  those 
diamonds  with  tears.  Joy  and  singing  resounded 
through  Dresden,  moaning  and  crying  throughout 
Saxony  and  Poland.  In  the  capital  there  was  luxury, 
in  the  country  misery  and  woe.' 

Faustina  sprang  to  her  feet,  she  was  indignant. 

'  Tace !  I  will  not  permit  you  to  say  anything 
against  him  ;  your  words  betoken  horrid  jealousy.' 

'  No,'  said  Hasse  quietly,  looking  at  her.  *  My 
love  was  absorbed  by  the  music,  I  loved  the  beautiful 
Faustina  for  her  voice,  and  was  entranced  when  I 
heard  it  or  even  thought  of  it.' 

At  that  moment  the  door  opened  a  little  way,  and 
then  closed  again  immediately,  but  Faustina  had 
perceived  who  was  there  and  called  him  in.  It  was 
Watzdorf,  the  same  who  had  called  Briihl  to  the 
Prince.  His  figure  and  movements  resembled  those 
of  the  bandit  of  the  fancy  dress  ball.  For  a  courtier 
the  expression  of  his  face  was  unusual,  an  ironical 
smile,  merciless  and  biting,  overspread  his  features, 
which  were  illumined  by  piercing  eyes. 

*I  thought,'   said    he,    entering   and    smiling  to 
Faustina,   '  that   you  had   not   yet   heard  what  had  ' 
happened.' 


96  Count   Briih] 

'  But  it  was  announced  urbi  et  orbi  by  the  sound 
of  the  bells,'  replied  the  Italian  approaching  him. 

*  Yes,  but  the  bells  ring  all  the  same  for  funeral  or 
wedding;  you  might  even  suppose  that  a  princess 
was  born  and  that  they  called  you  to  rejoice.' 

*Poor  King,'  Faustina  sighed. 

*Yes,'  said  Watzdorf  maliciously,  'he  lived  long, 
had  at  least  three  hundred  mistresses,  scattered 
millions,  •  drank  rivers  of  wine,  wore  out  plenty  of 
horses'  shoes,  and  cut  off  many  heads — was  it  not 
time  after  such  labour  to  lie  down  to  rest  ? ' 

None  ventured  to  interrupt  the  speaker ;  Hasse 
eyed  him  furtively. 

'  What  will  happen  next  ?  '  asked  Faustina. 

'We  had  an  opera  called  II  re  Augusto.,  we  shall 
now  have  a  new,  but  will  it  be  a  better  one?  The 
daughter  of  the  emperors,  Padre  Gruarini,  Padre 
Salerno,  Padre  Toyler  and  Padre  Kopper.  Faustina 
shall  sing  as  she  used  to  sing  before  ;  Hasse  shall 
compose  operas  as  he  composed  before.  It  will  be 
worse  for  us  court  composers  when  the  first  roles  are 
taken  by  foreign  pages  and  foreign  lackeys.' 

Hasse  bowed  and  said  in  a  low  voice  : 

'  Enough !  Enough  !  Suppose  someone  should 
be  listening  at  the  door.  It  is  dangerous  even  to 
listen  to  such  a  speech  as  yours  ! ' 

Watzdorf  shrugged  his  shoulders. 

'Where  were  you  in  March  last  year?'  asked 
Faustina  carelessly. 

'I?     In  March?     Wait — well — I  don't  remember.' 

'  I  see  you  were  not  in  New  Market  Square  where 
the  drama  entitled  "Major  d'Argelles"  was  played.' 

Watzdorf  said  nothing. 

'Don't  you  remember  that  d'Argelles  who  spoke 


Count  Briihl  97 

the  truth  invariably,  sparing  no  one?  I  could  see 
him  from  a  window.  I  pitied  the  poor  man  whom 
they  put  in  the  pillory  surrounded  by  the  crowd. 
The*  executioner  broke  a  sword  over  his  head,  gave 
him  tw^o  slaps  on  the  face,  and  thrust  into  his  mouth 
a  bunch  of  .his  libellous  writings.  Then  he  was 
incarcerated  in  Kaspelhouse  in  Dantzig  till  his  death.' 

*An  interesting  story,'  said  Watzdorf  ironically, 
*but  I  pity  more  the  man  who  acted  so  cruelly 
towards  Major  d'Argelles.' 

Watzdorf  looked  at  Faustina  triumphantly  and 
continued, 

*  Signora  Faustina,  during  the  morning  you  wall 
be  able  to  rest  and  get  strength  for  your  voice  so 
as  to  be  able  to  charm  the  new  king  and  rule  over 
him  as  you  ruled  over  the  deceased.  And  I  can 
tell  you  that  it  wdll  be  an  easier  task.  Augustus 
the  Strong  was  a  great  seducer,  whilst  his  son  is 
fond  of  smoking  the  same  jjipe  ;  when  they  hand 
him  a  new  one  he  shakes  his  head,  and  if  he  could 
he  would  be  angry.' 

He  laughed  and  continued  : — 

'  Well,  I  am  not  needed  here,  you  know  all  about 
it,  and  I  must  hasten  to  get  my  mourning  suit 
ready  for  to-morrow.  I  must  show  my  sorrow 
outwardly  if  I  cannot  within ;  no  one  can  see  into 
my  heart.' 

'  I  have  forgotten,'  said  he  suddenly  turning  from 
the  door  to  Faustina,  '  to  ask  you  how  you  stand 
with  Sulkowski  ?  To-morrow  he  ascends  the  throne, 
and  to-morrow  also  Briihl  will  either  return  to 
Thuringia  or  accept  the  position  of  a  lackey  in  order 
to  overthrow  him  at  the  opportune  moment.  Briihl 
and  Padre  Guarini  are  the  best  of  friends.' 


98  Count  Bruhl 

Hasse  called  '  hush ! '  Watzdorf  suddenly  covered 
his  mouth  with  his  hand. 

'  Is  it  not  allowed  ?     I  am  silent  then.' 

Faustina  was  confused.  '  Signore,'  said  she,  coming 
near  him,  '  you  are  incorrigible.     Be  careful.' 

She  placed  a  finger  on  his  lips. 

*  I  fear  nothing,'  said  Watzdorf  sighing.  '  I  have 
no  other  ambition  than  to  remain  an  honest  man, 
and  should  they  put  me  in  Konigstern  I  will  not 
be  tempted  to  change  my  opinion,  it  is  worth 
something.' 

*I  hope  you  may  not  be  your  own  prophet,'  said 
Hasse  clasping  his  hand.  '  Think  what  you  please, 
but  say  nothing.' 

'  There  would  be  no  merit  if  I  did  not  try  to 
spread  my  thoughts  among  people,'  answered 
Watzdorf  already  at  the  door.  '  I  wish  you  a  very 
good-night.' 

And  he  disappeared. 

'  There  is  no  doubt  that  he  will  end  in  Konigstein, 
or  if  there  should  be  no  room  for  him  there,  then 
in  Sonnenstein  or  Pleissenburg.' 

And  Hasse  sighed. 


CHAPTER  VII 

The  next  morning  one  could  hardly  see  any  signs 
of  grief  or  mourning  in  the  town,  but  a  general 
feeling  of  uneasiness  and  curiosity  had  been 
aroused. 

Small  groups  of  people  might  be  seen  near  the 
castle  and  in  Taschenburg  trying  to  guess  what 
was  going  on. 

There  was  unusual  animation  but  the  order  of 
changing  guards  was  unchanged.  Carriages  with 
drawn  curtains  and  closed  porte-ehaises  went  to 
and  fro  through  the  streets.  It  was  a  quiet,  subdued 
animation,  however.  The  official  signs  of  mourning 
did  not  yet  appear,  and  there  was  no  grief  visible 
on  any  face.  Every  courier  on  horseback  was  an 
object  of  curiosity  to  the  crowd  who  tried  to  guess 
his  errand.  The  people  whispered  but  did  not 
dare  to  speak  aloud.  Konigstein  was  near,  and 
it  seemed  that  at  the  head  of  the  government  the 
same  officials  would  remain,  carrying  out  the  same 
policy,  for  the  Prince,  the  present  Elector,  out 
of  respect  to  his  late  father  would  not  introduce 
any  strangers,  and  he  was  .too  fond  of  peace  and 
quiet  to  be  bothered  with  changes.  They  guessed 
only  that  Briihl  might  fall  and  that  Sulkowski  would 
rise  above  all.  But  no  one  knew  how  he  would 
exercise  his  power. 

Round  Briihl's  house  situated  in  the  New  Market 
Square    everything  was    quiet.      They    only   knew 

99 


100  Count  Briihl 

that,  tlie  day  before,  he  had  brought  the  crown  jewels 
and  the  King's  secret  archives. 

The  whole  day  passed  in  this  apparent  quiet. 
The  smaller  officials  did  not  know  to  whom  they 
should  bow  or  whom  avoid. 

Henniche,  Briihl' s  confidential  man,  that  ex-lackey 
whom  although  promoted  to  the  rank  of  councillor 
the  people  still  called  by  that  name,  was  sitting 
in  his  house  situated  near  that  of  his  protector. 

At  the  time  of  his  marriage  Henniche  never  dreamt 
of  how  high  he  might  rise,  for  he  had  married  a 
servant,  whose  only  claim  to  his  favour  was  youth 
and  some  slight  beauty.  To-day,  when  both  had 
disappeared,  Henniche's  wife  although  a  good  woman 
was  a  veritable  torture  to  her  husband,  for  she  bore 
such  evident  traces  of  her  low  origin,  that  he  could 
not  bring  her  forward.  Nothwithstanding  her  love 
for  her  lord  and  master,  she  tormented  him  by 
her  talkativeness  and  petty  ways.  He  had  only  just 
got  rid  of  her  and  yawned  leaning  on  his  elbows,  when 
there  entered  his  room,  without  being  announced, 
a  good-looking  man,  elegantly  dressed — although 
already  in  mourning — and  evidently  a  courtier. 

From,  his  face  oue  could  not  guess  much  more 
than  that  he  was  an  intelligent  and  cunning  man, 
two  qualities  necessary  for  a  life  among  intrigues, 
which,  like  the  wheels  of  passing  carriages,  might 
catch  and  crush  a  man.. 

The  new-comer  threw  his  hat  on  a  chair,  took  out 
a  snuff-box  and  handing  it  to  Henniche,  who  looked 
at  him  inquisitively,  said  : 

'  Well,  what  do  you  think,  how  will  it  be  ?  ' 

'I  don't  think  anything;  I  wait  and  watch,' 
answered  Henniche  quietly. 


Count  BriiHl 


101 


'  You  think,  Briihl  ?  '  '    '  : 

•  They  looked  into  each  other's  eyes. 

'  What  does  the  world  say  ?  '  asked  Henniche. 

'  Everybody  says  that  which  he  wishes  for ;  some 
say  that  Briihl  will  be  driven  away  and  perhaps 
imprisoned ;  others  say  that  Briihl  will  remain  and 
drive  out  the  rest.     And  what  do  you  think  ?  ' 

'I  told  you,  I  don't  think  anything,'  answered 
Henniche.  '  Should  they  succeed  in  overthrowing 
Briihl,  I  shall  help  them  :  should  Briihl  be  successful 
in  overthrowing  them,  I  shall  help  Briihl.  Thank 
God,  I  am  not  yet  in  so  high  a  position,  as  to  break 
my  neck,  should  I  fall  down.' 

The  new-comer  laughed. 

'  The  fact  is  that  the  only  safe  policy  is  to  wait  and 
not  mix  oneself  up  in  anything.' 

'  Yes,  yes,  my  dear  councillor  Globig,'  said  Henniche 
rising,  '  it's  dangerous  to  go  forward  as  well  as  to 
remain  in  the  rear  ;  the  wisest  course  is  to  remain  in 
the  middle.  But,  between  ourselves,  I  wager  you 
anything  you  like — even  my  wife  against  another 
better-looking  one,  for  she  tried  me  to-day  by  her 
prattle — that  Briihl  will  not  fall  and  that  nobody  will 
be  able  to  rival  him  :  from  to-day  begins  the  reign 
of  Briihl  I,  and  let  us  pray  that  it  lasts  as  long  as 
possible.  We  shall  both  be  satisfied.  But  you 
must  have  come  from  the  castle?  What  news 
there  ? ' 

'  Nothing,  quiet  as  the  grave ;  they  prepare  for 
mourning,  that's  all.  Padre  Guarini  passes  from  the 
Prince  to  the  Princess ;  Sulkowski  watches  them 
closely,  and  as  to  Briihl,  I  don't  even  know  what  has 
become  of  him.' 

'  He  will  not  be  lost,'  said  Henniche. 


102  Count    Briihl 

^  It  seems  that  the  Princess  will  not  be  satisfied  if 
she  becomes  only  the  wife  of  an  Elector.' 

'Briihl  shall  make  her  a  Queen/  said  Henniche 
laughing. 

At  that  moment  horses'  hoofs  resounded  in  the 
street ;  both  men  rushed  to  the  window,  in  time  to 
see  a  detachment  of  cavalry  gallop  to  the  castle.  A 
court  lackey  entered  the  house.  Henniche  ran  to  the 
door  ;  Globig  took  his  hat.  There  was  a  knock  and 
the  lackey  appeared  holding  a  letter  in  his  hand. 
Henniche  glanced  at  it  and  Globig  looked  inquisi- 
tively at  the  message  but  could  not  read  it,  for  their 
host  put  it  into  his  pocket  and  dismissed  the  lackey. 

Again  they  remained  alone. 

'  There  is  no  secret,'  said  Henniche  smiling,  '  a 
great  deal  of  money  is  needed.  It  is  not  forthcoming 
but  must  be  had.' 

Globig  advanced  towards  the  door.;  Henniche  took 
up  his  hat. 

'Henniche,  I  hope  we  shall  always  pull  together.' 

'  Even  if  we  have  to  fall,'  said  the  host  smiling 
ironically. 

'  That  is  not  necessary,'  answered  Globig  quickly. 
'  On  the  contrary,  if  one  of  us  should  fall,  the  other 
must  remain  and  help  him  to  rise.  We  must  climb 
together.' 

'  And  if  we  fall,  push  each  other  down.' 

'No,  we  should  require  no  help  from  each  other 
for  that.' 

They  shook  hands. 

Henniche  was  just  going  out  when  he  met  a  new- 
comer in  the  ante-room ;  this  was  a  tall  man  with 
thin  arms  and  long  legs  and  an  ugly  but  intelligent 
face. 


Count  Briihl  103 

*  Look,  lie  is  here  also/  said  Henniche  laughing. 
The  tall  man  entered  bowing. 

*  Well,  what  news  ?     Do  we  fall  or  rise  ?  ' 

'  You  must  be  patient  and  wait,'  said  the  host. 

*  When  there  is  the  question  of  our  skins  ! '  answered 
the  new-comer. 

'  My  dear  councillor  Loss,  our  skins  sown  together 
would  not  cover  a  comfortable  seat.  Everything  rests 
on  someone  who  has  broader  shoulders  than  ours. 
Have  you  heard  anything  ?  ' 

'  Just  what  everyone  expected  ;  Sulkowski  is  prime 
minister.' 

*Very  interesting  indeed  !  '  Henniche  hissed. 
*  Sulkowski,  being  a  Catholic,  cannot  preside  at  state 
councils  in  Protestant  Saxony,  unless  he  becomes  a 
Lutheran,  and  should  he  do  this  the  Prince  would 
spit  in  his  face,  not  to  speak  of  the  Princess.' 

*You  are  right,'  said  Councillor  Globig,  ^I  never 
thought  of  that.' 

*You  forget,'  said  Loss  showing  a  row  of  long 
teeth,  '  that  his  majesty  can  change  the  law.' 

'  Without  convocation  of  the  diet  ?  '  asked  Henniche. 

'  Yes,  here  he  is  ruler,'  replied  Loss,  *  and  Saxony 
is  not  Poland,  where  the  nobles  do  as  they  please  and 
the  King  is  obliged  to  bow  to  their  will.' 

Henniche  cleared  his  throat,  for  steps  were  heard 
at  the  door  and  at  that  moment  there  appeared  a  large, 
fat  man,  who  without  taking  off  his  hat,  looked  at  the 
three  men. 

He  was  another  councillor.  Hammer. 

'  What  is  it,  a  diet  ? '  said  he  slowly  imcovering 
his  head. 

'  This  is  quite  unexpected,'  said  Henniche  angrily 
'  speaking  frankly,  one  would  think  that  we  conspire' 


104  Count  Bmh] 

^  Wlio  does  anything  to-day  ?  The  work  will  not 
begin  till  to-morrow,'  said  Hammer.  '  To-day  every- 
one thinks  of  himself  and  makes  a  compromise  with 
his  conscience,  lest  he  should  seem  to  be  against  the 
rising  sun  by  saluting  the  setting  one ;  it  is  well 
known  that  if  one  turns  one's  face  towards  the  West, 
one  turns  something  else  to  the  East.' 

They  all  laughed. 

'  Hammer,'  said  Globig,  *  you  who  know  everything, 
tell  us,  what  news  have  you  ?  ' 

'  Bells,  bells,  bells  !  '  answered  Hammer.  '  Even 
if  I  knew  anything  I  would  not  say,  for  who 
knows  to-day,  who  is  his  friend  and  who  his  foe? 
One  must  be  silent,  one  must  cry  with  one  eye 
and  laugh  with  the  other  and  be  silent,  silent ! 
Henniche  has  his  hat,'  said  he  after  a  pause,  '  are  you 
going  out  ? ' 

'  I  must,'  said  the  host,  '  duty ! ' 

^Yes!  it  is  the  most  important  thing,'  said 
Hammer.  *  To-day,  everybody  serves  himself — there 
is  no  more  exacting  master.' 

'  Don't  you  know  anything  new  ? '  said  Globig  in 
a  low  voice  coming  near  Hammer. 

*  On  the  contrary,  I  have  much  news,  but  I  shall 
not  tell  it,  except  one  item.' 

All  drew  nearer. 

^  We  Saxons  do  not  count  at  present,  Poles  are  the 
most  important.  They  are  sure  of  the  succession 
to  the  principality  of  Saxonj^,  but  to  get  the  Polish 
crown  Sapiechas,  Lipskis,  Czartoryskis,  Lubonirskis, 
Moszynskis,  and  Sulkowskis  are  necessary.' 

*  You  have  put  Sulkowski  last  ? ' — asked  Loss 
ironically. 

*For  this  reason,  that  he  should  be  at  the  head,' 


Count  Briihl  105 

said   Hammer ;     '  and   now,   gentlemen,  I  wish  you 
good-bye.' 

He  put  on  his  hat  and  went  out  first  followed  by  the 
others.  The  host  remained  behind  evidently  wishing 
to  go  alone. 

At  the  door  of  the  house  everyone  of  them  looked 
round  cautiously,  and  they  all  went  in  different 
directions. 

In  the  square  could  be  seen  groups  of  people  and 
soldiers  marching.  The  same  curiosity  was  aroused 
in  other  houses  of  the  capital  of  Saxony,  but  until  the 
evening  nobody  could  say  anything  for  certain. 

The  dusk  was  falling,  when  a  poiie-cJiaise  stopped 
at  the  house  in  which  Padre  Guarini  lived.  He  was 
in  the  same  room  in  which  we  saw  him  previously 
with  Briihl.  Here,  the  confessor  to  the  Prince  and 
Princess,  the  most  powerful  although  the  most 
modest  man  in  the  court,  received  his  friends.  The 
modest  old  man  would  have  contented  himself  with 
a  couple  of  rooms,  but  as  he  was  obliged  to  receive 
many  distinguished  guests,  he  occupied  the  whole 
house.  According  to  the  rank  of  his  visitor,  he 
received  him  either  in  his  study  or  his  drawing-room, 
the  latter  being  beautifully  furnished  and  ornamented 
with  pictures  by  old  masters. 

A  tall  man  alighted  from  the  porte-cJiaise  dressed 
in  dark  clothes  and  wearing  a  sword.  By  his  face 
one  could  see  he  was  a  foreigner ;  his  features  were 
delicate,  aristocratic  but  faded.  A  sweet  smile 
brightened  his  face.  His  forehead  was  high  and 
white,  his  eyes  were  large  and  dark  ;  a  Roman  nose, 
thin  lips,  and  a  clean  shaven  face  showed  that  he 
was  a  man  of  gentle  birth.  He  wore  a  black  cloak 
and  white  lace  cuffs  to  his  dress. 


106  Count  Briihl 

He  ran  upstairs,  rang  the  bell,  and  when  Guarini's 
old  servant  opened  the  door,  he  entered  without 
asking  any  questions  and  without  giving  his  name. 
The  old  servant  hastened  to  open  not  the  door  of  the 
study  but  that  of  the  drawing-room. 

The  room  was  dark  and  unoccupied,  but  Padre 
Guarini  entered  almost  at  the  same  moment ;  not 
a  little  surprised  at  seeing  the  new-comer,  he  bent 
his  head  humbly  and  crossed  his  arms  on  his  chest. 

The  stranger  drew  near  and  they  kissed  each 
other's  shoulders,  Guarini  bending  almost  to  his  hand. 

*You  didn't  expect  me,'  said  the  guest,  'I  did 
not  know  myself  that  I  should  come  to-day.  You 
can  guess  what  brings  me  here — the  present  situation 
is  of  the  greatest  importance.' 

'  Yesterday  I  sent  a  letter  asking  for  instructions,' 
answered  the  host. 

'  I  have  brought  them  to  you.  Lock  the  door. 
We  must  be  alone.' 

*  It  is  not  necessary,'  answered  Guarini,  '  we  are 
quite  safe  here.' 

'  Then  let  us  not  waste  time  !  How  do  things 
stand  ?  What  is  going  to  happen  ?  Are  you  afraid 
of  anything  ?  Do  you  need  any  help  ?  Speak  and 
let  us  be  advised  beforehand.' 

Guarini  became  silent,  weighing  that  which  he  was 
going  to  say.  Although  the  stranger  wore  civil  dress, 
he  said  to  him : 

'  Most  Reverend  Father,  you  know  as  well  as  I  do 
the  state  of  affairs  at  the  court.  The  Prince  is  a 
zealous  Catholic,  the  Princess,  if  it  were  possible,  is 
still  more  zealous.  The  first  favourite  Sulkowski  is  also 
a  Catholic.  Everyone  about  them  confesses  to  our 
holv  faith.' 


Count  Briihl  107 

'  But  Sulkowski !  I  heard  that  he  will  be  the  most 
important  figure  in  the  future.  The  Prince  is  good, 
of  weak  character,  and  lazy,  consequently  someone 
must  rule  for  him.     Can  we  trust  Sulkowski  ?  ' 

Guarini  became  thoughtful,  looked  into  the  eyes 
of  the  stranger,  put  one  hand  on  his  mouth  and 
shook  his  head. 

'  He  is  a  Catholic,'  said  he  after  a  pause,  '  but  he 
is  cold,  his  ambition  is  stronger  than  his  faith  ;  his 
longer  influence  would  be  perilous  both  for  us  and 
Catholicism.     There  is  no  doubt.' 

'  But,  as  far  as  I  know,  it  is  impossible  to  overthrow 
him,'  said  the  guest.    '  Is  the  Princess  strong  enough  ? ' 

'  By  her  face  and  character  ?  '  whispered  the  Jesuit. 
'  Do  you  think,  then,  that  in  that  quiet  nature  of  the 
Prince,  there  will  ever  arise  the  blood  and  the  passions 
of  Augustus  the  Strong  ?  Is  it  possible  ?  Then  of 
what  account  would  the  Princess  be?  Sulkowski 
will  suggest  other  women  to  him,  in  order  to  rule 
through  them.' 

The  stranger  frowned. 

*  Your  views  are  too  gloomy,'  said  he  '  we  must  find 
some  remedy.' 

'I  have  thought  it  over  beforehand,'  began  Guarini 
seating  his  guest  on  the  sofa  and  taking  a  chair  beside 
him.  '  We  must  have  near  the  Prince  a  man  whom 
we  can  be  sure  will  serve  us,  who  would  also  depend 
upon  us.  Frederick  is  lazy,  we  must  make  him  a  soft 
bed,  provide  him  with  his  favourite  amusements,  give 
him  operas,  hunting  and  pictures.  Who  knows, 
perhaps  something  more,'  said  he  sighing. 

Again  the  stranger  frowned. 

'  It  is  too  bad,'  he  interrupted,  '  that  for  so  great  a* 
purpose,  we  must  use  base  means  ;  it  is  sad — ' 


108  Count  Briihl 

*  Cum  finis  est  licitus,  etiarn  media  licita  smit,^ 
quoted  Guarini  quietly.  '  We  cannot  limit  the  means  : 
they  are  different  in  every  case.' 

'  I  understand,'  said  the  guest,  '  it  is  of  the  greatest 
importance  that  we  do  not  expose  ourselves  to 
calumny.  The  question  is  about  the  salvation  of 
our  souls,  about  holding  our  position  here,  where 
previously  Luther  was  omnipotent.  We  haA^e  tools, 
it  would  be  sinful  if  we  dropped  them  for  the  sake 
of  scruples,  we  must  rather  lose  one  soul  than 
sacrifice  thousands.' 

Guarini  listened  humbly. 

'Father,'  said  he  quietly,  'I  have  told  myself  the 
same  a  hundred  times,  and  that  is  why  I  serve  as 
best  I  can,  not  always  in  the  direction  conscience 
would  direct,  but  often  like  a  pulcinello  of  the  Prince, 
like  an  impresario  behind  the  stage,  like  a  councillor 
there,  where  advice  is  necessary.  When  the  question 
is  how  to  take  a  stronghold,  and  when  one  cannot 
take  it  by  force  of  arms,  one  takes  it  by  strategy. 
Media  sunt  licita.'' 

'  We  don  t  need  to  repeat  that  to  each  other,'  said 
the  guest.     '  Tell  me  all  about  your  plans.' 

'  We  must  act  with  caution,'  began  Guarini.  '  You 
must  not  be  scandalised  at  our  actions  ;  sometimes 
you  will  have  cause  to  sigh  over  our  wickedness,  but 
Aveak  people  must  be  guided  by  the  cords  of  their 
own  passions. — We  are  sure  of  the  Princess  ;  our  first 
duty  is,  if  possible,  to  make  her  influence  stronger. 
But  that  most  pious  lady,  I  am  forced  to  admit,  is  the 
most  unbearable  in  private  life,  and  the  King  must 
have  some  distraction,  for  he  could  not  live  without 
it.  If  we  do  not  furnish  it,  he  will  supply  it  for 
himself — ' 


Count  Briihl  109 

He  paused  and  then  continued  : 

'  Sulkowski  will  not  listen  to  anybody,  lie  will 
sacrifice  everything  for  himself ;  in  order  to  keep  the 
King  under  his  domination,  he  will  give  him  every- 
thing he  wishes  for.  We  never  can  be  certain  of  him  ; 
we  must  overthrow  him.' 

*  By  what  means  ?  ' 

^1  shall  come  to  that;  Providence  has  given  us  a 
tool.     We  have  a  man.     Briihl  is  that  man.' 

*  Protestant,'  said  the  stranger. 

'  He  is  a  Protestant  in  Saxony  and  publicly ;  but 
in  Poland  and  in  his  private  life  he  is  a  Catholic. 
We  must  permit  that ;  you  know  what  our  Maldonatus 
says : — Onando  vohis  dissimidantihus  religio  vera 
aliquod  detrimentum  aeceptura  sit  aut  aliqua  religio 
falsa  confirmaretur,  alias  ittam  dissimulare  licet, 
aliqua  causa  legitima  interveniente^  Briihl  shall  be 
or  rather  is  a  Catholic.  We  shall  find  him  a 
Catholic  wife,  whom  he  will  accept  from  the  Prince's 
and  our  hands ;  we  shall  help  him  to  overthrow 
Sulkowski ;  with  Briihl  we  are  lords  here.  Nobody 
will  suspect  that  we  have  had  a  hand  in  the  matter, 
for  nobody  could  suspect  us  of  helping  a  Protestant 
against  a  Catholic' 

'  But  are  you  sure  of  him  ?  ' 

Guarini  smiled. 

'  He  shall  be  dependent  upon  us ;  should  he 
attempt  to  betray  us,  he  would  fall  to-morrow ;  we 
have  plenty  of  means  to  accomplish  that.' 

'  I  cannot  deny  that  the  plan  is  excellent,'  said  the 
stranger  after  a  moment  of  thought,  '  but  the  execution 
of  it  seems  to  me  doubtful.' 

*  Joannis  Maldonati  Summula.     Colomae,  1605,  p.  5 


110  Count  Briihl 

^  Yes,  just  at  present,'  said  Padre  Guarini,  'it  may 
take  us  one  or  percliance  two  years'  work,  using  all 
possible  means,  but  with  God's  help  victory  is  certain 
as  far  as  in  human  affairs  one  can  be  certain  of 
anything.' 

*  Do  you  count  on  the  Prince's  character  ?  ' 

^  Yes,'  answered  Guarini,  '  having  been  his  con- 
fessor for  so  many  years  I  know  him  well.' 

'  What  about  the  Princess  ? '  asked  the  guest. 

'  She  is  a  worthy  lady  and  a  saint,  but  God  has  not 
endowed  her  with  any  feminine  charm.  She  will  not 
satisfy  the  Prince.' 

^  For  God's  sake  !  I  hope  you  will  not  persuade 
him  to  lead  the  lascivious  life  that  his  father  did  ! ' 

'  We  need  not  restrain  him  from  that,'  said  Guarini, 
*  his  natural  disposition  will  not  allow  him  to  create 
a  public  scandal,  ^but  it  would  be  impossible  to  put 
a  bridle  on  his  passions.  They  wdll  be  secret  but 
stubborn.  We  must  overlook  many  things  in  order 
to  make  him  remain  a  Catholic' 

The  stranger  became  sad. 

'  What  an  awful  thing  it  is  to  be  obliged  to  soil 
oneself  for  the  sake  of  the  holy  truth  !  ' 

'  Well,  there  must  be  some  scapegoat,  such  as  I,' 
said  Guarini  jocosely.     '  The  people  envy  me — ' 

'Not  I,'  interrupted  the  visitor,  'not  I !  ' 

'  What  are  your  orders  ?  '  asked  Guarini. 

'Your  plans  shall  be  considered  by  our  council,' 
answered  the  stranger.  '  In  the  meanwhile  you 
must  act.     We  shall  send  you  our  instructions  soon.' 

'  Briihl  shall  remain.  The  Prince,  with  tears,  has 
promised  his  wife  to  fulfil  his  father's  last  wish. 
Sulkowski  shall  only  be  the  apparent  ruler,  Briihl 
shall  be  the  true  one,  and  then — ' 


Count  Briihl  iii 

'  You  think  you  will  be  able  to  overthrow  him  ? ' 

^  We  are  certain  ;  we  all  act  against  the  man,  who 
has  not  the  slightest  idea  of  danger,  and  Briihl's 
ambition  is  the  best  weapon  in  our  hands.' 

'  But  Briihl ! ' 

'He  is  a  devil  in  human  form,  but  a  devil  who 
prays  and  is  equally  ready  to  crush  his  enemy,  and 
suffers  from  no  qualms  of  conscience.  Then  he  is 
sweet,  polite  and  winning  to  the  highest  degree.' 

They  became  silent,  the  stranger  thoughtful. 

*  Any  progress  in  conversion  ? '  asked  he  after  a 
moment's  pause. 

*  In  this  nest  of  heresy  ? '  said  Guarini,  '  here, 
where  Protestantism  dominates  ?  The  progress  is 
very  small,  and  the  souls,  which  our  fishermen's 
nets  pull  to  the  shore,  are  not  worth  much.  Their 
descendants  may  pay  for  our  labour.  And  then 
there  is  a  new  heresy  spreading  rapidly,  the  fight 
against  which  may  be  more  difficult  than  against 
the  others.' 

'What  is  it?' 

'  Nothing  new,  any  more  than  other  heresies  ;  but 
the  apostle  of  it  is  a  powerful,  exalted,  self-satisfied 
man.  We  have  to  fight  not  only  a  dogma,  for  with 
him  dogma  is  of  secondary  importance,  but  a  new 
social  organisation,  which  he  proposes  to  build. 
Falsehood  takes  the  brightness  from  truth.  In  the 
woods  beyond  the  town,  the  committee  of  the 
Moravian  Brothers,  something  like  a  monastic 
order  without  any  rules,  was  organised  and 
prospers.' 

'  Tell  me  more  about  it,'  said  the  guest,  with 
animation.     '  I  have  heard  nothing  about  it.' 

'A  strange   fanatic,    not    of   religion   but   of  the 


112  •     Count  Briihl 

social  organisation  and  tlie  way  of  living,  attempted 
in  the  name  of  Christ  and  his  teaching,  to  create 
a  new  State.  Christ  is  the  King  of  that  republic. 
Separated,  but  living  in  the  same  spot,  there  dwell 
troops  of  women,  girls  and  children.  They  are 
united  by  joining  in  common  prayers  and  meals. 
The  powerful  lord,  Count  Zinzendorf,  granted  land 
to  the  community  and  became  its  minister  and 
preacher.  Work  and  prayer,  strict  discipline  and 
brotherly  love,  rule  over  the  Moravian  Brothers  of 
Herrnhut.' 

The  stranger  listened  attentively. 

'  And  you  permitted  the  spreading  of  heresy  ? ' 
he  exclaimed. 

'I  tried  to  stop  it,  but  in  vain,'  said  Guarini. 
'  Investigations  were  made,  and  I  hope  Zinzendorf 
will  be  banished.' 

'But  they  must  have  committed  some  abomina- 
tions !  '  said  the  guest. 

'  The  most  careful  investigations  failed  to  discover 
anything  vicious.  Those  people  confess  different 
creeds,  but  they  are  united  in  one  strange  com- 
munity, in  w^hich  there  is  no  private  property,  no 
poor  people,  no  orphans  ;  they  constitute  one  family, 
the  father  of  which  is  Christ.' 

'  Horrendum ! '  exclaimed  the  stranger.  '  And  the 
marriages  ? ' 

'  They  are  strictly  observed,  but  as  they  believe 
that  they  are  directly  ruled  by  Christ,  you  may 
guess  how  marriages  are  contracted.  The  young 
men  draw  their  wives  by  lots  and  the  couples  live 
an  exemplary  life.' 

'You  tell  me  of  strange  things.  But  may  they 
not  be  false  rumours  ?  ' 


Count  Briihl  113 

'  I  was  there  myself,  and  I  saw  tlie  praying  bands 
of  maidens  with,  purple  sashes,  of  married  women 
with  blue,  and  of  widows  with  white.' 

The  guest  sighed. 

'  I  trust  you  will  not  suffer  the  sect  to  grow.' 

*We  must  cut  off  its  head,'  said  Guarini. 
'  Zinzendorf  shall  be  banished,  then  the  community 
will  scatter.' 

*  Have  you  seen  this  Zinzendorf  ?  ' 

'Yes,  several  times,  for  he  does  not  avoid  the 
Catholic  priests :  on  the  contrary,  he  discourses 
willingly  w4th  them,  not  about  theology,  however, 
but  about  the  first  Christians,  their  life  and  our 
Saviour's  love,  the  axle-tree,  according  to  him,  round 
which  the  Christian  world  ought  to  revolve.' 

At  this  moment  the  old  servant  appeared  in  the 
doorway.  Padre  Guarini,  having  excused  himself, 
went  to  the  ante-room  where  he  found  one  of  the 
King's  lackeys.  The  Prince  had  sent  for  his 
confessor. 

It  was  necessary  to  take  leave  of  the  guest,  to 
whom  paper,  pen  and  ink  were  given,  and  he  settled 
himself  to  write  as  though  in  his  own  house.  Padre 
Guarini  took  leave  of  his  guest  and  preceded  by 
the  lackey,  hastened  to  the  Prince. 

Frederick  was  sitting  in  the  same  room  in  which 
he  had  learned  about  his  father's  death.  He  held 
a  pipe,  his  head  drooped,  and  he  was  silent  as  usual. 
Only  the  wrinkles  of  his  forehead  indicated  that  he 
was  thinking  hard. 

When  Padre  Guarini  entered  the  Prince  wished 
to  rise,  but  the  Jesuit  held  him  gently  to  his  chair 
and  kissed  his  hand.  At  a  little  distance  stood 
Sulkowski,  who  would   not  leave  his   master   even 

H 


114  Count   Briihl 

for  a  moment.  His  face  was  beaming  triumphantly 
but  lie  tried  to  be  sad  officially. 

Padre  Quarini  could  take  more  liberties  ;  he  knew 
that  notwithstanding  the  official  mourning,  a  little 
distraction  would  be  necessary;  consequently  his 
manner  was  almost  jovial,  he  took  a  stool  and  sat 
near  the  Prince,  and  looking  into  his  eyes,  spoke  in 
Italian  with  animation. 

'  We  must  pray  for  our  late  King,  but  it  is  not 
proper  to  mourn  too  much  over  that  which  is  natural 
and  necessary.  Too  intense  grief  is  injurious  to  the 
health,  and  then  your  Royal  Highness  has  no  time 
for  it.  It  is  necessary  to  rule  and  to  keep  in  good 
health.' 

The  Prince  smiled. 

^  I  saw  Frosch  in  the  ante-room,'  continued  the 
Jesuit,  'he  looks  as  if  someone  had  put  him  into 
vinegar ;  he  cries  because  he  cannot  play  tricks  on 
Horch.*  They  sit  in  opposite  corners  and  put  out 
their  tongues  at  each  other.' 

*  It  must  be  very  amusing  I '  whispered  the  Prince  : 

*  but  it  would  not  be  decorous  for  me  to  see  it ;  it  is 
the  time  of  mourning.' 

The  Jesuit  was  silent. 

'Frosch  is  very  amusing,  and  I  like  him,'  added 
the  Prince,  and  looked  at  Sulkowski,  who  walked 
softly  to  and  fro.  The  Padre  tried  to  read  the 
Count's  face,  but  saw  only  pride  and  self-satisfaction. 
The  Prince  pointed  at  him  and  whispered — 'Good 
friend — all  my  hopes  are  centred  in  him — but  for 
him  I  could  not  have  peace.' 

The  Jesuit  nodded  in  sign  of  approval 

*  Two  court  fools. 


Count  Brlihl  115 

Sulkowski  knowing  that  to  prolong  the  conver- 
sation would  bore  the  Prince,  came  to  him  and  said  : 

'It  is  difficult  to  find  amusement  for  your  Royal 
Highness  amid  so  many  troubles.' 

'I  think,'  said  the  Jesuit,  '  that  with  your  good-will 
everything  can  be  done.' 

'  Yes,  in  Saxony,'  answered  Sulkowski  at  whom 
the  Prince  was  looking  and  nodding  affirmatively, 
'  but  in  Poland — ' 

'Our  late  King  left  many  friends  and  faithful 
servants  there.  What  does  Briihl  say  ? '  asked 
Guarini. 

The  Prince  looked  at  Sulkowski  as  if  authorising 
him  to  answer.  The  Count  hesitated  a  moment, 
then  said  : 

'  Briihl  assured  us  that  our  friends  there  will  work 
zealously  at  the  coming  election.  But  who  knows 
that  Leszezynski,  France  and  intrigues  will  not  stand 
in  our  way  ?     For  that  we  need  money.' 

'  Briihl  must  furnish  it,'  said  the  Prince.  '  He  is 
very  able  at  that.' 

Sulkowski  became  silent. 

*  We  shall  all  do  our  best  and  put  the  crown  of  a 
king  on  the  head  of  our  gracious  lord. — ' 

'And  Josepha's,'  added  Frederick  quickly.  'It 
is  due  to  her ;  she  cannot  remain  the  wife  of  the 
Elector  of  Saxony.' 

Both  men  nodded ;  the  Prince  smoked  his  pipe 
and  became  thoughtfiil.  It  seemed  that  he  would 
talk  further  on  the  same  subject  when  he  bent  to 
Guarini  and  whispered : 

'Frosch  sitting  in  the  corner  must  be  very 
amusing ;  you  say  they  showed  each  other  their 
tongues  ? ' 


116  Count  Briihl 

*  I  am  certain  I  saw  two  red  tongues,  but  I  don't 
know  whether  they  showed  them  to  each  other  or 
to  me.' 

The  Prince,  forgetting  himself,  laughed  aloud, 
then  he  put  his  hand  to  his  mouth  and  became 
silent. 

And  it  was  not  until  after  a  long  while  that  Frederick 
bent  again  to  Guarini's  ear  and  whispered  : 

*  Have  you  seen  Faustina  ?  ' 
'  No,'  answered  the  Jesuit. 

'  Ah  ?  No  ?  Why  ?  Assure  her  of  my  favour, 
only  she  must  take  care  of  her  voice.  I  appreciate 
her  ver}''  much.  E  una  diva!  She  sings  like  an 
angel !  No  other  can  rival  her.  I  shall  be  longing 
to  hear  her.  Now  she  must  sing  in  church,  there  at 
least  I  may  listen  to  her.' 

Sulkowski  disliked  that  whispering :  he  moved 
aside,  and  then  came  near  the  Prince.  Frederick 
again  pointed  him  out  to  the  x>i'iest. 

'  He  will  be  my  prime  minister — my  right  hand.' 

'I  am  glad  to  hear  such  good  news,'  said  Guarini, 
clapping  his  hands  softly.  '  Saxony  is  to  be  con- 
gratulated at  having  at  her  head  such  a  man  and 
such  a  good  Catholic  as  the  Count.' 

The  Prince  looked  round. 

*  If  my  Saxon  subjects  object  to  having  a  Catholic 
as  my  prime  minister,  Briihl  will  do  whatever  I 
command.' 

*  I  have  nothing  against  Briihl,'  said  the  Jesuit, 
'  but  he  is  a  stubborn  Protestant.' 

To  this  the  Prince  answered  :  '  Pshaw ! '  and  waved 
his  hand. 

Sulkowski  looked  suspiciously  at  the  Jesuit,  who 
assumed  a  humble  and  quiet  mien  . 


Count   Briihl  117 

At  that  moment  Moszynski  was  announced,  and 
the  Prince  ordered  him  to  be  shown  in. 

'  I  wished  to  take  leave  of  your  Royal  Highness,' 
he  said  bending  to  kiss  Frederick's  hand.  'I  am 
going  to  Warsaw  :  we  cannot  neglect  the  election.' 

*Very  well,  go  then,'  said  the  Prince  sighing. 
*  Although  Briihl  assures  me — ' 

*  Briihl  knows  neither  Poland  nor  the  Poles,'  said 
Moszynski  with  fervour.     '  It  is  our  affair.' 

Suddenly,  Frederick  rose,  and  exclaimed  as  if 
he  had  recollected  something  : 

'  By  the  bye  !  You  are  going  to  Warsaw  !  Pray 
remember  about  those  hounds  that  were  left  in 
Wilanow.  I  must  have  them  !  Send  someone  by 
poHe-chaise  with  them.  There  are  no  better  hounds 
than  they  are.     You  know — ' 

'Yes,  they  are  black,'  said  Moszynski. 

'Jupiter,  Diana,  and  Mercury,'  enumerated  the 
Prince.     '  Pray  send  them  to  me  at  once.' 

'  I  think  they  had  better  stay  there,'  said  Moszynski. 
'  When  the  Prince  becomes  King ' 

'  My  dear  Count,  send  me  also  Corregio's  Madonna  ! 
Take  it  from  the  Saxony  Palace  and  send  it !  It  is  a 
masterpiece ! ' 

Moszynski  bowed. 

'  Any  further  orders  ?  '  asked  he. 

'  Greet  the  musketeers  ;  my  father  was  very  fond  of 
them.' 

The  remembrance  of  his  father  made  him  gloomy, 
he  sat  down.  Sulkowski,  always  anxious  that  his 
master  should  have  that  of  which  he  was  fond,  went 
to  tell  a  lackey  to  bring  a  fresh  pipe.  The  Prince 
seized  it  quickly  and  began  to  smoke. 

All   were    silent.     Guarini   looked   attentively    at 


118  Count  Briihl 

Frederick  ;  Moszynski  waited  in  vain,  for  the  Prince 
was  so  much,  absorbed  in  his  pipe  that  he  forgot  about 
everything  else. 

At  length  Moszynski  kissed  the  Prince's  hand  and 
took  his  leave.  Frederick  smiled  on  him  affection- 
ately, but  said  not  a  word  more. 

Sulkowski  conducted  Moszynski  to  the  ante-room ; 
the  Prince  remained  with  Guarini.  Hardly  had  the 
door  closed  when  the  Prince  turned  to  the  Jesuit. 

'  That's  nothing,'  he  whispered,  '  when  they  only 
show  each  other  their  tongues,  but  when  Frosch  begins 
to  abuse  Horch,  and  the  latter  begins  to  kick,  and 
then  when  both  go  under  the  table  and  fight,  then 
one  can  die  of  laughter.' 

Guarini  seemed  to  share  the  Prince's  appreciation 
of  the  comical  attitude  of  two  fighting  fools. 

'  No,'  continued  the  Prince,  '  one  cannot  let  them 
into  the  dining-room  to-morrow  ;  but  later  on,  for 
they  must  not  forget  their  excellent  tricks.' 

Guarini  got  up  ;  it  seemed  that  he  was  hastening 
to  return  to  the  guest  he  had  left  at  his  house.  The 
Prince  changed  the  subject  of  conversation,  and  said  : 

'  Don't  be  angry,  that  I  propose  to  make  Briihl  a 
minister  although  he  is  a  Protestant.  He  shall  be 
quickly  converted,  for  he  is  an  intelligent  man,  and  I 
shall  command  him — you  shall  see.' 

Guarini  made  no  answer ;  he  bowed  and  went  out. 


CHAPTER  VIII 

During  the  reign  of  Augustus  the  Strong,  Dresden 
was  not  lacking  in  beautiful  women.  Notwitlistand- 
ing  sad  experiences  of  the  King's  instability,  every 
beautiful  woman  hoped  to  be  able  to  attract  his 
attention,  although  they  well  knew  that  it  would  not 
be  for  long.  Among  the  young  ladies  there  was  not 
however,  one  more  beautiful,  more  coquettish,  more 
vivacious,  or  better  able  to  please,  than  the  young 
Countess  Frances  Kolowrath,  the  same  who,  several 
years  before,  received  Bruhl  in  the  Taschenberg  Palace, 
the  same,  whom  we  saw  in  one  of  the  booths  during 
the  fancy  dress  ball  in  the  castle.  The  high  rank  of 
her  mother,  who  was  the  principal  lady-in-waiting  at 
the  court  of  the  Princess,  gave  her  the  privilege  of 
precedence  before  all  other  ladies  except  the  princesses 
of  the  ruling  houses :  the  favours  of  Princess  Josephina, 
hopes  of  a  brilliant  future,  her  family  name,  all  made 
the  girl  proud  and  self-willed.  The  older  she  grew 
the  more  difficult  it  was  for  her  mother  to  control  her. 
An  only  child  and  much  petted,  notwithstanding  the 
Princess's  severity,  she  was  able  to  throw  off  the 
court  etiquette,  and  form  many  acquaintances  and 
love  intrigues.  She  did  not  seem  to  care  much  about 
the  future.  She  looked  upon  matrimony  as  upon 
freedom  from  a  yoke  which  she  could  not  bear. 

A  few  days  after  the  news  of  the  King's  death,  when 
the  court  was  obliged  to  go  into  mourning  and  all 
amusements  were  stopped,  Lady  Frances  was  bored 


120  Count   Briihl 

more  than  ever.  The  black  dress,  which  she  was 
obliged  to  put  on,  was  becoming  to  her,  but  she 
disliked  it  very  much.  That  evening  she  stood  in 
her  room  before  her  mirror  and  admired  her  beautiful 
figure  and  features. 

As  dusk  fell  she  rang  the  bell  and  ordered  lights  to 
be  brought.  She  was  alone,  for  her  mother  was  at  the 
court,  and  she  did  not  know  what  to  do  with  herself. 
Walking  to  and  fro  she  noticed  a  box  and  took  it 
from  a  little  table.  She  brought  it  near  the  light  and 
opened  it  with  a  little  key  she  carried  in  her  pocket. 

The  box  was  full  of  small  jewels  and  pieces  of 
paper.  One  could  guess  that  these  were  letters 
addressed  to  herself. 

Some  of  them  she  put  aside  with  a  smile,  the  others 
she  read  and  became  thoughtful.  Then  she  locked 
the  box  and  lay  down  on  the  sofa,  looking  at  a  little 
ring  that  glistened  on  her  finger.  It  was  an  old, 
black  enamelled  ring,  with  an  inscription  in  gold  on 
it :     A  hora  y  siempre. 

In  the  young  lady's  room,  besides  the  door  leading 
to  her  mother's  apartment,  there  was  another  little 
door  concealed  in  the  wall,  leading  to  some  side  stairs. 
Just  as  she  became  thoiightful  over  the  ring,  the 
door  opened  quietly  and  someone  looked  through  it 
cautiously  :  the  young  lady  turned  her  head,  saw  who 
it  was,  and  rose  from  the  sofa  with  an  exclamation. 
The  good-looking  young  Watzdorf  stood  before  her. 
We  saw  him  at  Faustina's  comically  joking,  and  ironi- 
cally sneering.  To-day  his  face,  usually  ironical, 
bore  quite  another  expression  ;  it  was  almost  sad  and 
thoughtful. 

The  beautiful  Frances,  as  if  afraid  at  his  appearance, 
stood  silent, 


Count  Briihl  121 

Watzdorf  seemed  to  beseech,  her  forgiveness  with, 
his  eyes. 

^  Christian,  how  could  you ! '  she  said  at  length, 
with  a  voice  in  whicK  there  was  true  or  artificial 
emotion.  '  How  could  you  do  this,  when  there  are 
so  many  people  about  ?  Someone  will  see  you  and 
tell  about  it  The  Princess  is  severe,  and  my 
mother — ' 

*  Nobody  could  see  me,'  said  Watzdorf  coming 
nearer.  *  Frances,  my  goddess  !  I  have  been  waiting 
for  hours  under  the  stairs,  in  order  to  see  j^ou  alone 
for  a  moment.  Your  mother  prays  with  the  Princess," 
there  is  nobody  in  the  house.' 

'  Ah !  those  stolen  moments  !  '  cried  Frances.  '  I 
don't  much  like  such  secret  happiness.' 

'Patience,  till  the  other  comes,'  said  Watzdorf 
taking  her  hand.     'I  hope — -' 

*  Not  I,'  interrupted  the  girl,  '  they  will  dispose  of 
me,  against  my  will,  as  they  would  dispose  of  a  piece 
of  furniture.  The  Princess,  the  Prince,  my  mother, 
Padre  Guarini — I  am  a  slave.' 

*  Then  let  us  run  away  from  here  !  ' 

'  Where  ?  '  asked  Frances  laughing.  '  To  Austria, 
where  we  shall  be  caught  by  the  Emperor's  police : 
to  Prussia,  where  the  Brandenburgian  would  stop  us. 
Let  us. run  [  That  is  all  very  well,  but  how  and  with 
what  ?  You  have  nothing,  except  your  salary  at  the 
court,  and  I  have  only  the  favour  of  the  Prince  and 
Princess.' 

*  But  your  mother's  heart — ' 

'That  heart  will  search  out  happiness  for  me  in 
diamonds — it  understands  no  other.' 

'  Frances,  my  goddess  !  How  cruel  you  are  to-day, 
you  take  all  my  hope  from  me  !  ' 


122  Count  Briihl 

*I  can't  give  that  which.  I  don't  possess  myself/ 
said  the  girl  coolly  and  sadly. 

'  For  you  don't  love  me.' 

The  lovely  girl  looked  at  him  reproachfully. 

*  I  never  loved  anybody  but  you  !  '  said  she.  '  I 
shall  never  be  able  to  love  anybody  else,  and  because 
I  love  you,  I  should  like  to  speak  frankly  with  you.' 

Watzdorf  cast  his  eyes  on  the  floor. 

'I  understand,'  he  muttered. — 'You  wish  to 
convince  me,  that  because  you  love  me,  you  cannot 
be  mine,  and  that  I  must  give  you  up.  Such  is  the 
logic  of  love  in  courts.  Because  you  love  me,  because 
I  love  you,  you  must  marry  another  man — ' 

'  Yes  ;  I  must  marry  the  first  one  they  give  me  ; 
but  that  man  shall  not  have  my  heart.' 

'  It's  hideous  !  '  interrupted  Watzdorf.  '  You  do 
not  wish  to  sacrifice  anything  for  me.' 

'  For  I  do  not  wish  to  bring  evil  on  you,'  said  the 
girl.  '  They  would  catch  us  to-morrow  if  we  fly  to- 
day, you  would  be  sent  to  Konigstein,  and  they  would 
marry ime  to'the  man  whom  they  have  selected  forme.' 

'  I  think  I  shall  go  to  Konigstein  in  any  case,'  said 
Watzdorf.  '  I  cannot  shut  my  mouth  looking  at  this 
horrible  life,  at  this  despotism  of  a  lackey.  I  say 
what  I  think,  and  that  is,  as  you  know,  the  way  to 
get  there,  where  one  speaks  only  to  four  walls  of  the 
prison.' 

'  Listen,  Christian,  instead  of  talking,  we  ought  to 
be  silent,'  said  the  girl,  '  instead  of  wishing  to  improve 
them,  we  ought  to  despise  them  and  rule  them.' 

'  Giving  in  to  their  fancies,  and  lying  for  a  life- 
time, cheating  them,  and  soiling  oneself — '  said 
Watzdorf.     '  What  a  lovely  life  !  ' 

'  Then  is  it  better  to  give  up  everything  ?  '  said  the 


Count  Briihl  123 

girl  laugliing.  '  I,  a  woman,  I  am  not  so  tragical,  I 
take  life  as  it  is.' 

'I  despise  it,'  muttered  Watzdorf. 

The  girl  put  out  her  hand  to  him. 

'  Poor  enthusiast ! '  she  sighed.  *  Ah  !  how  I  pity 
you  and  myself  ;  there  is  no  hope  for  us — and  if  we 
could  catch  a  moment  of  happiness,  it  is  amidst 
falsehood  and  lying.' 

She  came  near  him,  put  one  hand  on  his  shoulder, 
and  the  other  she  put  round  his  neck. 

'  Ah !  this  life  ! '  she  whispered,  ^  one  must  be  drunk 
in  order  to  bear  it.' 

'  And  be  a  cheat  !  '  added  Watzdorf,  who  seized  her 
hand  and  kissed  it  passionately.  '  Frances,  you  don't 
love  me  ;  you  love  the  life  m6re  than  me  ;  the  world 
and  the  golden  fetters.' 

The  girl  was  silent  and  sad. 

'  Who  knows  ?  '  she  said.  '  I  dou't  know  myself. 
They  brought  me  up,  cradling  me  in  falsehood  and 
teaching  me  how  to  lie,  in  the  meanwhile  arousing 
in  me  a  desire  for  sensation,  distraction,  luxury  and 
enjoyment.  I  am  not  certain  of  my  own  heart,  for  I 
was  corrupted  before  I  began  to  live.' 

'  Love  ought  to  make  us  both  better,'  said  Watzdorf 
looking  into  her  eyes  passionately.  '  I  was  also  a 
courtier  before  I  loved  you — by  that  love  I  became  a 
man  ;  I  became  purified  in  its  flames.' 

The  girl  laid  her  head  on  his  shoulder  and  spoke 
to  him  in  a  whisper;  they  both  seemed  to  forget 
about  the  whole  world.  Their  eyes  spoke  more  than 
their  lips  ;  their  hands  met  and  joined. 

They  forgot  themselves  to  such  a  degree  that  they 
did  not  notice  that  the  same  door  by  which 
Watzdorf  had  entered  opened,  and  the  threatening, 


124  Count  Briihl 

pale  and  angry  face  of  the  girl's  mother  appeared 
through  it. 

Seeing  her  daughter  with  a  man  whom  she  did 
not  recognise  at  once,  she  was  struck  dumb.  She 
made  a  step  forward  and  pulled  Watzdorf  by  his 
sleeve.  Her  lips  trembled  and  her  eyes  were  full 
of  awful  anger  ;  the  girl  turned  and  perceived  the 
thunder-bolt  look  of  her  mother.  But  she  was 
not  afraid.  She  retreated  a  step,  while  Watzdorf 
not  knowing  yet  who  had  disturbed  them,  mechanically 
searched  for  his  sword. 

Only  when  he  turned  and  saw  the  Countess  did 
he  become  pale  and  stood  silent  like  a  criminal 
caught  red-handed  in  the  act. 

The  Countess  could  not  speak,  because  of  her 
great  anger :  she  breathed  heavily,  pressing  her 
bosom  with  one  hand,  with  the  other  pointing 
imperiously  to  the  door. 

Watzdorf  before  obeying  bent  over  the  girl's  hand 
and  pressed  it  to  his  lips ;  the  mother  pulled  it  from 
him,  and  trembling  continually  pointed  to  the  door. 

Watzdorf  looked  at  the  pale  girl  and  went  out 
slowly.  The  Countess  fell  on  the  sofa — her  daughter 
remained  cold  and  indifferent  like  a  statue.  The 
Countess  cried  from  anger. 

*  Shame  on  you  !  '  cried  she,  *  you  dare  to  receive 
that  man  in  your  room  !  ' 

'  Because  I  Ioa' e  him  ! '  answered  the  girl  calmly. 

'  And  you  dare  to  tell  me  that ! ' 

'  Why  should  I  not  say  what  I  feel  ?  ' 

The  Countess  sobbed. 

'And  you  think  that  because  of  your  stupid  love 
for  that  good-for-nothing  man,  who  is  hardly  tolerated 
in  the  court,  I  shall  sacrifice  your  future  ?     Never  ! ' 


Count    Briihl  125 

*  I  did  not  expect  that  I  could  be  happy  and 
honest,'  answered  the  girl  coolly. 

*  You  are  mad  ! '  cried  the  mother. 

The  girl  sat  in  the  chair  opposite  her  mother, 
took  a  flower  from  the  bouquet  standing  on  the 
table,  and  raised  it  to  her  lips.  Cold  and  ironical 
resignation  was  depicted  on  her  face ;  the  mother 
looked  at  her  and  was  frightened. 

*  Happily,  he  could  go  out  without  being  noticed,' 
she  murmured  to  herself.  '  To-morrow  I  shall  order 
that  door  to  be  fastened,  and  I  shall  lock  you  in  like 
a  slave.  Could  I  ever  have  expected  to  see  such  a 
thing?' 

The  girl,  biting  the  flower,  seemed  to  be  ready 
to  listen  to  any  reproaches  her  mother  might  heap 
on  her.  The  disdainful  silence  of  her  daughter 
made  the  Countess  still  more  angry.  She  sprang 
from  the  sofa  and  walked  rapidly  across  the  room. 

'If  Watzdorf  shall  dare  to  speak,  or  look  at  you, 
woe  betide  him  !  I  shall  fall  at  the  feet  of  the 
Princess,  I  shall  pray  Sulkowski,  and  they  will 
lock  him  up  for  ever.' 

*I  don't  think  he  would  like  to  expose  himself 
to  that,'  said  the  girl.  *  To-day  I  took  all  hope  from 
him.  I  told  him  that  I  may  not  dispose  of  myself  ; 
that  they  would  treat  me  like  a  slave;  that  I  shall 
marry  the  man  they  destine  for  me,  but  that  I  shall 
not  love  him — ' 

*  You  dare  to  tell  me  that ! ' 

*  I  say  what  I  think.  The  man  who  would  marry 
me,  will  know  what  to  expect  from  me.' 

The  Countess  looked  at  her  daughter  threateningly 

but  she  was  silent.     Suddenly  she  wrung  her  hands.. 

'.  Ungrateful ! '    she   cried   more   tenderly.      '  The 


126  Count  Briihl 

moment  I  try  to  secure  for  you  with  our  lady  tlie 
most  brilliant  future,  you — ' 

'  I  am  quite  aware  that  I  shall  be  led  like  a 
sacrifice,  dressed  in  brocade,'  rejoined  the  girl 
laughing  bitterly.     '  Such  a  future  is  unavoidable.' 

'Yes,  for  you  know  that  you  cannot  resist  the 
will  of  your  mother  and  that  of  the  Princess  and 
the  Prince.' 

'  Who  has  no  will  whatever,'  said  the  girl  ironically. 

'  Silence ! '  interrupted  her  mother  threateningly. 
*  I  came  to  tell  you  about  happiness,  and  I  found 
shame  !  ' 

'  It  was  not  necessary  to  tell  me  of  that  which 
I  was  aware.  Sulkowski  is  married,  consequently 
1  must  marry  the  other  minister,  Briihl.  I  expected 
that.     Indeed,  it's  a  great  happiness  ! ' 

'  Greater  than  you  deserve,'  answered  her  mother. 
'  What  could  you  have  against  the  nicest  man  in 
the  world  ? ' 

'  Nothing  whatever  ;  I  am  as  indifferent  to  him  as " 
if  he  were   the  most  stupid  and  the  most  horrid. 
He  or   another   is   just   the   same   to   me,  if   I   can 
not  marry  the  one  whom  I  love.' 

'  Don't  dare  to  pronounce  his  name :  I  hate  him ! 
If  he  dares  to  make  one  step  he  is  lost ! ' 

*  I  shall  warn  him  :  I  don't  wish  him  to  come  to 
nought :  I  wish  him  to  avenge  me.' 

'  Don't  you  dare  to  speak  to  him  !  I  forbid  you  ! ' 

The  girl  became  silent.  The  Countess,  having 
noticed  that  she  was  five  minutes  late  for  her  duties 
at  the  court,  said  : 

'  You  come  with  me  ;  the  Princess  commanded 
you  to  come.     You  know  how  you  should  behave.' 

A  few  minutes  later  both  ladies  went  out.     It  was 


Count  Briihl  127 

suj^per  time.  The  strict  etiquette  introduced  from 
the  Austrian  court  and  severely  observed  by  the 
Princess  Josephine  did  not  permit  anyone  to  sit  at  the 
same  table  with  the  Prince  and  Princess,  except  the 
ministers.  The  other  dignitaries  of  the  court,  Avho 
were  present  during  meal  times  sat  at  another  table 
in  a  separate  room,  That  day  the  Prince  supped  alone 
with  his  consort.  Padre  Guarini  sat  on  a  stool  apart 
to  keep  them  company.  Before  the  court  went  into 
mourning  he  would  amuse  the  Prince  by  joking  with 
Frosch  and  Horch,  who  usually  would  fight,  while  the 
Prince  would  laugh  to  encourage  them,  and  be  in  his 
best  humour.  The  new  mourning  did  not  permit  the 
fools  to  perform,  but  in  consideration  of  the  necessity 
of  distraction  for  the  Princess,  Guarini  allowed 
Frosch  and  Horch  to  be  present  in  the  dining- 
room,  but  they  were  not  permitted  to  play  their 
usual  jokes.  They  were  placed  in  such  a  way  that 
the  Prince  would  notice  them  immediately. 

The  table  was  set  magnificently  and  lighted  pro- 
fusely. Frederick  entered  with  his  consort  whose 
common  features  were  in  striking  contrast  to  the 
serene  and  beautiful  although  cold  face  of  her  husband. 
The  type  of  the  Hapsburgs  was  not  well  represented  in 
Josephine,  who  although  still  young  had  none  of  the 
charm  of  youth ;  the  hanging  lower  lip,  gloomy 
expression,  something  common  and  severe  in  her  face, 
made  her  repulsive. 

Whilst  Padre  Guarini  recited  the  henedicite,  the 
Prince  and  Princess  stood  with  piously  clasped 
hands,  the  servants  waiting.  As  Frederick  sat  down 
he  caught  sight  of  Frosch  and  Horch  who  had 
assumed  such  a  dignified  and  pompous  mien  that 
they  were  more  ridiculous  than  ever. 


128  Count   Briihl 

Frosch  was  almost  dwarfish  ;  Horch.  tall  and  thin. 
They  were  both  dressed  alike.  Although  the  court 
was  in  mourning  the  fools  wore  red  tail  coats  and 
blue  trousers.  Frosch's  wig  was  curled  like  a  sheep- 
skin, while  Horch's  hair  was  flat.  Frosch  stood  in 
the  position  of  the  Colossus  of  Rhodes,  with  hands 
placed  behind  his  back.  Horch  stood  stretched  like 
a  soldier,  with  arms  straight  down  his  sides.  Both 
were  very  amusing. 

The  Prince  having  noticed  them  smiled.  While 
eating  and  drinking  with  a  famous  appetite, 
Frederick  looked  from  time  to  time  at  his  favourites  ; 
he  was  sorry  he  could  not  permit  them  to  play 
their  jokes,  but  they  would  have  been  too  noisy. 
The  sight  of  them  alone  made  the  Prince  happy, 
but  he  had  another  source  of  happiness  in  that 
Sulkowski  and  Briihl  were  such  good  friends. 
Briihl  willingly  resigned  his  appointment  as  Grand 
Marshal  of  the  court,  which  dignity  the  Prince 
bestowed  upon  Sulkowski,  and  was  content  to  be 
the  president  of  the  ministers  and  Secretary  of  the 
Treasury.  It  was  only  a  matter  of  form,  as 
Sulkowski  was  expected  to  keep  everything  under 
his  own  control. 

But  the  future  was  not  certain. 

Briihl  seemed  to  be  Sulkowski's  best  friend,  and 
the  latter  being  sure  of  the  Prince's  favour  did  not 
fear  him  as  a  rival. 

Having  put  the  whole  burden  of  ruling  on  these  two 
men,  the  Prince  felt  at  ease  to  lead  his  own  monotonous 
life.  He  only  longed  after  the  opera,  after  Faustina, 
and  after  hunting.  But  all  that  was  bound  to  return 
after  the  mourning  was  over.  In  Poland  the  Count 
Moszynski,  the  Bishop  Lipski  and  others  were  work- 


Count   Briihl  129 

ing  hard  to  assure  the  Prince's  election  as  King,  and 
Briihl  guaranteed  that  it  would  be  done. 

A  few  days  after  the  news  of  his  father's  death, 
Frederick  declared  that  he  would  not  change  anything. 
But  Saxony  expected  some  improvements,  and  was 
soon  disillusioned  and  informed  that  she  must  not 
expect  anything.     The  taxes  were  as  heavy  as  ever. 

That  evening  when  the  Prince  went  to  his  apart- 
ment, Sulkowski  and  Briihl  followed  him. 

In  another  room  some  courtiers  were  grouped  round 
Josephine,  and  between  them  was  the  joking  Padre 
Guarini.  The  Princess,  having  remained  to  talk  to 
them  for  a  time,  retired  to  her  own  room  followed  by 
the  Countess  Kolowrath,  who  told  her  daughter  to 
follow  her. 

Josephine  stood  in  the  centre  of  the  drawing-room 
as  though  expecting  something.  The  young  girl 
entered  without  the  least  sign  of  fear.  The  Princess 
asked  her  to  come  near  and  said  : 

'  My  dear  girl,  it  is  time  to  think  of  your  future — I 
am  willing  to  do  something  for  you.' 

The  mother  fearing  some  improper  answer  said  : 

*  We  shall  ever  be  thankful  to  your  Royal  Highness.' 

'  I  know  that  you  are  a  good  Catholic,'  continued 
the  Princess,  '  therefore,  I  must  assure  you  before  all, 
that  your  future  husband,  although  not  bom  in  the 
Catholic  faith,  shall  embrace  it.  Consequently  you 
shall  have  the  merit  of  gaining  one  soul  for  God.' 

The  girl  listened  quite  indifferently.  The  Princess 
looked  at  her  but  failed  to  see  any  emotion  in  her 
face. 

'  I  congratulate  you,'   added  she,  *  on   the   choice 
made  for  you  by  myself  and  your  mother ;  the  man 
destined  for  your  husband  is  very  pious,  of  great 
I 


130  Count  Briihl 

character  and  keen  intelligence — it  is  the  Secretary 
of  the  Treasury,  Briihl.' 

Josephine  looked  again  at  the  girl,  who  stood 
silent. 

'You  must  permit  him  to  approach  you,  so  that 
you  may  get  to  know  each  other,  and  I  hope  you  will 
be  happy.' 

The  mother  pushed  the  girl  towards  the  Princess  ; 
Frances  resented  being  pushed,  bent  her  head  and 
moved  aside. 

Thus  the  day  ended,  memorable  in  the  life  of  the 
girl,  who  looked  so  indifferently  on  her  future. 

The  next  day,  probably  by  permission  of  the 
Countess,  Briihl  paid  his  respects  to  the  young  girl 
who  was  sitting  alone.  After  a  moment's  reflection 
she  allowed  him  to  be  shown  in.  She  received  him 
in  the  same  room  in  which  yesterday,  leaning  on 
Watzdorf's  shoulder,  she  had  said  good-bye  to 
happiness. 

The  mourning  was  very  becoming  to  her  :  her 
beauty  seemed  still  greater  on  the  dark  background 
of  her  black  dress.  Besides  paleness  there  was  no 
other  sign  of  suffering  on  her  face ;  cool  and  brave 
resignation  lent  something  imposing  to  her  features. 

Briihl,  who  was  one  of  the  most  refined  dandies  of 
his  time,  attributed  great  importance  to  dress,  and 
was  dressed  that  day  with  particular  care.  The 
eweet  smile  did  not  leave  his  too  delicate  face  even 
for  a  moment.  In  the  same  proportion  that  the  young 
lady  wished  to  be  sober  and  thoughtful,  did  he  wish 
to  be  joyful  and  happy. 

He  advanced  quickly  to  the  table  behind  which 
she  was  sitting  ;  she  nodded  slightly  and  pointed  to 
a  chair  standing  near. 


Count  Briihl  131 

*I  see,'  said  Briihl,  'that  you  have  assumed  a  sad 
expression  to  be  in  harmony  with  your  mourning, 
while  I—' 

'  You  are  more  lively  to-day  than  ever,'  interrupted 
the  young  lady.  '  May  I  ask  what  makes  jon  so 
happy  ? ' 

'  I  hope  you  are  aware  of  the  cause,'  said  Briihl 
raising  his  hand  to  his  heart. 

*  Let  us  not  play  a  comedy,'  said  Frances,  '  neither 
you  can  deceive  me,  nor  I  you.  They  commanded 
me  to  marry  you,  while  1  love  another  man ;  they 
command  you  to  marry  me,  while  you  love  another 
woman.     Those  are  not  very  joyful  things.' 

'  I,  in  love  with  another  ? '  said  Briihl,  with  well- 
assumed  surprise. 

'  For  a  long  time  you  have  loved,  and  passionately, 
the  Countess  Moszynski ;  of  this  both  she  and  her 
husband  and  everyone  else,  is  aware,  and  you  think 
that  I,  living  in  the  court,  do  not  know  it  ? ' 

'  If  you  wish  me  to  confess  that  I  was  in  love  with 
her—' 

*  Oh  !  the  old  love  is  lasting.' 

*  But  you  tell  me  that  you  love.' 

*  Yes,  I  don't  conceal  that  I  love  another  man.' 
'Whom?' 

'There  is  no  need  to  betray  his  and  my  secret. 
— Suffice  it  that  I  am  sincere  when  I  tell  you  of  this.' 

*  It  is  very  sad  news  for  me  ! '  exclaimed  Briihl. 

'  It  is  still  sadder  for  myself.  Could  you  not  find 
another  woman,  with  whom  you  could  be  happy  ?  ' 

She  looked  at  him  :  Briihl  grew  confused. 

'  It  is  the  will  of  the  Prince  and  Princess.' 

'As  well  as  Padre  Gnarini's,'  said  the  young  lady. 
'  I  understand.     Is  it  then  irrevocable  ?  ' 


132  Count   Briihl 

*  Madam,'  said  Briihl,  '  I  hope  that  I  shall  win  your 
regard — I — ' 

'I  have  no  hopes,  but  as  our  matrimony  is  in- 
evitable, it  would  be  well  to  prepare  ourselves  for 
that  which  we  must  expect.' 

'  I  shall  try  to  make  you  happy.' 

*  Thank  you,  but  I  think  I  had  better  take  care  of 
my  happiness  myself,  and  you  of  yours.  I  don't 
forbid  you  to  love  Moszynski,  for  even  were  I  to 
forbid  you  to  do  so,  it  would  be  useless.  Cosel's 
daughter  inherited  her  mother's  beauty  and  power — 
which  unfortunately,  I  don't  possess.' 

'  You  are  cruel.' 

'  No,  I  am  sincere,  that's  all.' 

Briihl,  notwithstanding' a  great  faculty  for  conver- 
sation, felt  that  words  failed  him.  His  situation 
became  painful,  while  the  young  lady  did  not  show 
that  she  was  disturbed  in  the  least. 

*  Notwithstanding  all,  I  am  not  in  despair,'  he 
said  after  a  pause.  'I  have  known  you  ever  since 
you  were  a  mere  child,  I  have  been  your  admirer 
for  a  long  time ;  that  which  you  said  about  the 
Countess  Moszynski  was  only' a  fancy,  already  passed 
and  forgotten.  My  heart  is  free,  and  it  is  yours. 
I  hope  you  will  be  able  to  throw  off  your  aversion 
to  me.' 

*  I  have  no  aversion  to  you ;  you  are  a  matter  of 
perfect  indifference  to  me,'  the  young  lady 
interrupted. 

'  Even  that  means  something.' 
'It  means,  that  you  might  awaken  my  aversion, 
while  wishing  to  awaken  love. — It  is  very  possible.' 
Briihl  rose  ;  his  face  was  burning. 

*  Perchance  never  a  wooer  met  with  a  worse  re- 


Count  Briihl  133 

ception/  lie  said  sighing.  '  But  I  shall  be  able  to 
overcome  this  impression/ 

*  Do  as  you  please,  but  remember,  that  if  I  become 
a  victim,  I  shall  marry  you,  for  I  must,  but  you 
know  now  what  awaits  you.' 

Having  said  this,  she  rose ;  Briihl  smiling  as 
sweetly  as  he  could,  wished  to  take  hold  of  her  hand, 
but  she  withdrew,  and  said  : 

'  I  wish  you  good-bye.' 

The  secretary  left  the  room :  his  face  was  sweet 
and  serene  as  ever,  and  nobody  could  have  guessed 
his  defeat. 

While  walking  with  elastic  step  across  the  draw- 
ing-room, he  met  the  Countess  Kolowrath,  who, 
before  speaking,  looked  at  him  sharply — but  dis- 
covered nothing. 

'  Have  you  seen  Frances  ?  '  she  asked. 

'I  return  from  her.' 

'  How  did  she  receive  you  ?  ' 

Briihl  did  not  answer  at  once. 

'As  one  receives  someone  who  is  not  welcome,' 
he  said  at  length. 

'  Ah  !  you  have  plenty  of  time. — For  many  reasons 
I  should  not  care  to  hasten  the  wedding.' 

'  I  am  not  of  your  opinion,  for  I  know  that  it  is 
easiest  to  conquer  the  heart,  when  one  is  sure  of 
the  hand,'  said  Briihl.  'The  approach  of  the 
wedding  would  give  us  a  chance  to  know  each  other, 
and  I  hope  that  your  daughter  knowing  me  better, 
and  my  sentiment — ' 

The  Countess  smiled. 

'  Enough  for  to-day,'  said  she,  '  cela  viendra. 
Frances  is  so  beautiful  that  it  is  impossible  not  to 
worship  her,  but  she  is  proud  and  high-spirited  like 


134  Count   Briihl 

a  goddess.  If  our  old  King  were  living,  I  should 
fear  for  her,  for  she  could  make  an  impression  even 
on  him.' 

Briihl,  having  made  some  further  remark,  left  her 
with  a  sweet  smile.  When  he  entered  his  post-chaise, 
waiting  for  him  at  the  door,  his  face  became  gloomy. 

*  I  should  like  to  know,'  said  he  to  himself,  'whom 
she  loves.  She  had  always  so  many  admirers,  and 
was  so  sweet  to  them  all,  that  it  is  impossible  to 
guess  who  succeeded  in  winning  her  heart,  but  her 
beauty  is  necessary  to  me.  Who  knows  !  The 
Prince  may  not  always  be  faithful  to  his  wife, — 
and  in  that  case — ' 

He  finished  his  thought  with  a  smile. 

'  She  may  not  love  me,  but  our  common  interests 
will  make  us  friends.  Then  they  know  about 
Moszynski  ;  it  is  difficult  to  conceal  love.' 

Drowned  in  his  thoughts,  Briihl  did  not  notice 
that  his  post-chaise  had  stopped  before  the  door 
of  his  house. 

Numerous  servants  waited  for  him.  The  moment 
he  alighted  his  face  was  sweetly  smiling. 

He  ran  upstairs.  Henniche  was  waiting  for  him. 
The  faithful  servant  looked  better  and  more  healthy 
than  usual.  His  face  was  smiling  ironically.  Briihl 
entered  the  office,  where  he  found  Griobig,  Hammer, 
and  Loss.  All  rose  to  greet  ,his  Excellency,  followed 
by  Henniche. 

The  secretary  was  ready  to  look  through  some 
papers,  when  Henniche  whispered. 

'  You  are  wanted  there.' 

And  he  pointed  to  the  door  of  the  drawing-room. 
There,  Padre. Guarini,  dressed  in  a  grey  coat  was 
walking  to  and  fro. 


CHAPTER  IX 

The  Prince  could  rest  quietly  ;  in  Poland  numerous 
adherents  were  working  for  him,  in  Dresden  Sulkowski 
and  Briihl,  equally  ambitious,  though  the  former  was 
more  sure  of  his  position.  The  Prince  loved  him 
and,  what  was  more  important,  was  accustomed  to 
him.  He  had  been  with  Frederick  ever  since  they 
were  mere  boys.  Together  they  received  their  first 
impressions,  together  they  became  men.  Sulkowski 
knew  his  master,  for  he  had  watched  him  as  he  grew. 
Briihl  divined  him. 

When  Augustus  II  became  a  Catholic  in  order  to 
get  the  Polish  crown,  the  Pope  Clement  XI,  made 
every  effort  that  the  son  might  not  follow  his  mother, 
a  zealous  Protestant,  but  that  he  should  follow  his 
father's  religion,  a  matter  of  indifference  to  the  King 
who  did  not  believe  in  anything.  For  Augustus  the 
Strong  was  an  irritating  problem  to  the  Church. 

It  was  uncertain  which  way  the  election  would 
go  in  Poland  ;  in  Protestant  Saxony  Catholicism  was 
an  obstacle  and  a  peril.  Then  the  mother,  Queen 
Eberhardin,  neQ  Beirenth,  and  the  grandmother 
Anna  Sophia,  the  Danish  Princess,  watched  that 
the  son  and  grandson  might  not  follow  his  father. 
Both  ladies  were  Protestant  fanatics.  But  this  is 
certain,  that  Augustus  II,  in  his  efforts  to  make 
a  hereditary  monarchy  of  Poland,  even  if  he  were 
obliged  to  sacrifice  part  of  it,  was  inclined  to  make 
his  son  a  Catholic — otherwise  it  was  immaterial  to 


136  Count   Briihl 

him.  Urged  by  the  Pope,  Augustus  the  Strong  on 
the  4th  of  September  1701  swore  that  his  son  should 
be  brought  up  a  Catholic,  and  on  February  8th  1702, 
he  assured  the  Saxon  states  that  his  son  should  be 
Lutheran.  The  fact  was  that  he  did  not  know 
which  policy  was  the  best. 

When  Frederick  was  yet  a  mere  boy,  his  grand- 
mother appointed  Alexander  von  Miltitz  as  tutor. 
The  man  was  not  fitted  for  the  position.  The 
contemporary  documents  say  that  the  grandmother 
had  not  much  judgment ;  she  was  ruled  by 
Protestant  motives,  and  after  dinner  knew  less  than 
in  the  morning  what  she  was  doing.  The  little 
Frederick  was  taken  from  the  Queen  Eberhardin 
and  placed  in  the  care  of  the  grandmother. 
Alexander  von  Miltitz  being  pedantic,  avaricious, 
dull  and  lazy,  could  not  have  had  any  good  influence. 
As  he  was  indifferent  in  the  matter  of  religion,  the 
Protestant  clergymen^surrounded  the  young  Prince, 
and  did  not  permit  him  to  come  in  contact  with 
Catholics.  Furstenburg  notified  the  Pope  about  it 
and  an  admonition  came  from  Rome. 

When  Frederick  was  twelve  years  old  he  was 
taken  out  of  the  women's  hands  and  sent  .with  a 
tutor  to  travel,  but  he  soon  came  back.  Both  queens, 
being  afraid  that  he  might  be  made  a  Catholic, 
ordered  him,  when  fourteen  years  of  age,  to  make 
a  public  confession  of  Protestantism  and  then  he 
received  confirmation.  The  King,  who  was  then  in 
Danzig,  wrote  to  the  Pope  about  it,  assuring  him 
that  were  he  not  hindered  by  certain  circumstances, 
he  would  have  those  who  had  dared  to  take  such 
a  bold  step  without  his  knowledge,  punished. 

The  circumstances  then  were  such  tliat  Augustus 


Count  Briihl  137 

was  obliged  to  smooth  matters  over  with.  Rome  by 
promising  that  Frederick  should  be  converted. 
General  Koss  was  brought  from  Poland  and 
appointed  the  Prince's  instructor.  Sulkowski  was 
already  with  the  Prince. 

In  1711  Augustus  took  his  son  to  Poland  from 
whence  they  went  to  Prague  and  here  the  consulta- 
tion with  the  Pope's  nuncio  Albani  took  place.  The 
result  of  it  was  that  they  determined  to  change  the 
Prince's  whole  court,  and  to  surround  him  with 
Catholics.  Frederick  knew  nothing  about  it  and  on 
his  return  to  Dresden  he  went  to  a  Lutheran  church. 

Then  General  Koss,  by  the  King's  command, 
dismissed  Baron  von  Miltitz  together  with  the  other 
members  of  the  court,  with  the  exception  of  the 
physician  and  the  cook,  and  the  Jesuit  father  Salerno 
took  the  Prince's  education  in  hand.  In  the  mean- 
time Augustus  II  sent  his  son  to  travel,  commanding 
him  to  go  first  to  Venice.  In  those  days  the  Venetian 
carnivals  held  in  St  Mark's  Square  were  still  very 
famous.  In  January  1712  they  started  on  the  A'oyage 
which,  in  order  to  keep  the  Prince  from  Protestant 
influence,  was  to  last  for  seven  years.  All  the  letters 
the  Prince  wrote  to  his  family  were  read  by  the 
Saxon  General,  Lutzelburg,  a  shrewd  man,  but 
whose  morals  were  not  of  the  best. 

The  Prince,  being  from  the  first  troubled  by  his 
conscience,  succeeded  in  communicating  with  and 
asking  help  from  the  Queen  of  England,  Anne,  and 
Frederick  IV,  King  of  Denmark.  Queen  Anne 
invited  him  to  come  to  England,  the  King  of  Den- 
mark wrote  that  should  he  become  a  Catholic,  he 
would  lose  all  chance  of  the  throne  of  Denmark. 

In  the  same  year,  the  Pope  assured  Augustus  II 


138  Count  BrUhl 

that  ill  the  event  of  the  Protestant  princes  attacking 
him,   he,    the   Pope,   would   support   him.      In   the 
meantime   the   Prince,  accompanied  by   Sulkowski, 
who,   being   the   same   age,   became    his  favourite, 
travelled  incognito  in  Italy,  under  the  name  of  the 
Count   of   Luzacia.     His   court,  besides   Sulkowski, 
was  composed  of  two  generals,  Koss  and  Lutzelburg, 
and  of  Father  Salerno  in  civilian's   clothes,  and  of 
another  Jesuit,  a  Saxon,  Father  Vogler.     The  secretary 
was  also  a  Jesuit,  whose  name  was  Kopper,   who 
also  wore  the  garments  of  a  civilian  and  travelled 
under  the  name  of  Weddernoy.     Consequently   the 
influence  on  the  Prince  was  constant  and  as  it  went 
on    several    years    was    difficult    to    resist.      From 
Venice  they  went  to  Bologna,  where  the  Prince  was 
received  solemnly  by  the  officials  of  the  Pope.     Here 
Father  Salerno  succeeded  in  converting  the  Prince. 
The   confession  of   the  faith  was  made  in  strictest 
secrecy,  before  Cardinal  Cassoni.     Later  both  Albani 
and  Salerno  were  rewarded  with  the  hats  of  Cardinals. 
The    conversion    remained   a   secret   for    a    long 
time,  and  as  the   Saxon   states   requested   that   the 
Prince  might  return,  Augustus,  not  wishing  to  irritate 
them,  ordered  that  the  proposed  journey  to  Rome  be 
abandoned.    In  1713  the  Prince  was  returning  home, 
when  he  was  told  to  stay  for  some  time  at  Diissel- 
dorf   at   the   court  of   the   Elector  Palatine,  a  very 
zealous  Catholic  ;  later  he  went  on  to  the  court  of 
Louis  XIV,  who  had  been  advised  by  the  Pope  of 
his  conversion.     There  was 'a  rumour  of  a  plot  made 
by  his  Protestant  relations  about  the  conversion  of  the 
Prince,  but  the  affair  remains   in  obscurity.     They 
feared    continually    that    the   Prince    might    never 
become  a  Protestant  again. 


Count  Briihl       .       139 

In  Paris  the  Prince  was  very  well  received,  as  one 
can  see  from  the  letters  of  the  old  Princess  of 
Orleans  ;  they  found  him  very  agreeable  although  he 
spoke  but  little,  a  habit  that  remained  with  him 
through  life. 

From  France  they  took  the  Prince  not  to  England 
as  the  original  project  was,  but  through  Lyons  and 
Marseilles  again  to  Venice,  where  the  signoria  did 
everything  to  amuse  him.  Masquerades,  regattas, 
comedies,  balls  succeeded  each  other. 

By  the  advice  of  Pope  Clement  XI,  it  was  decided 
to  marry  the  Prince  to  a  Catholic  princess  ;  for  this 
purpose  they  began  to  search  Venice  through  Father 
Salerno ;  the  Count  von  Harkenberg  and  the  Prince 
Eugene  helped  so  much  that  a  Princess  was  promised. 
They  took  the  Prince  to  Vienna  ;  he  could  not  take 
one  step  without  his  father's  permission. 

The  conversion  was  still  secret,  although  the 
reason  for  sparing  the  sensibility  of  the  queen-mother 
ceased,  for  she  died.  In  October  of  1717,  on  a  certain 
morning,  the  Count  von  Lutzelburg  ordered  the 
whole  court  to  be  ready  at  ten  o'clock  in  the  ante- 
room of  the  Prince.  About  eleven  o'clock,  the 
carriage  of  the  papal  nuncio  drew  up  in  front  of  the 
palace  and  Monsignor  Spinoli  alighted  from  it  and 
was  conducted  to  the  Prince.  Shortly  after  that 
there  came  a  little  man  with  a  casket  under  his  arm 
and  the  Count  von  Lutzelburg  said  to  the  courtiers 
that  in  the  Prince's  room  something  was  going  on, 
and  that  the  Protestants  could  look  at  it  or  not.  The 
door  opened,  the  nuncio  was  reading,  and  the  Prince, 
not  being  well  and  lying  in  bed,  listened  with  great^ 
piety.  After  the  Mass  the  nuncio  left  and  the  Prince 
said  to  his  Protestant  courtiers  : 


140  Count  Briihl 


*  Gentlemen,  now  you  know  what  I  am,  and  I  beg 
of  you  to  follow  me.' 

To  this  Greneral  Kospoth  answered  : 

'  We  have  not  yet  had  time  to  realise  it,  it  is 
difficult  to  decide  at  once.' 

The  Prince  said  : 

'  You  are  right,  one  must  first  of  all  become  good 
Christians,  then  Catholics.' 

The  secret  was  unveiled  ;  the  following  Sunday 
the  Prince  went  to  the  Jesuit  church  and  took  the 
Communion.  There  was  great  joy  in  Rome  over  this 
success. 

Saxony  was  again  assured  that  the  Protestant 
religion  should  be  respected,  but  it  was  easy  to 
foresee  that  efforts  would  be  made  towards  conver- 
sions. They  kept  the  Prince  seven  months  in  Vienna, 
Augustus  furnished  plenty  of  money  for  a  splendid 
court  and  balls  ;  and  there  he  was  married,  in  1719, 
to  the  Archduchess  Maria  Josephine. 

During  the  whole  of  that  time  Sulkowski  was  con- 
tinually with  the  Prince.  He  returned  with  tlie 
court  to  Dresden  where  the  Emperor's  daughter  was 
received  with  the  greatest  honours.  Sulkowski  by 
habit  and  necessity  shared  in  all  the  amusements  of 
the  Prince,  his  hunting  parties,  theatres  and  art. 
During  his  travels  with  the  Prince  in  Germany, 
France  and  Italy,  he  saw  a  great  deal  and  educated 
himself ;  he  learned  to  know  the  world,  and  what 
was  more  important,  Frederick's  likes  and  dislikes. 
He  was  able  to  take  advantage  of  them,  by  pleasing 
him,  to  rule  him,  and  he  felt  that  he  was  so  necessary 
to  him  that  nobody  could  overthrow  him.  The 
Prince  was  very  familiar  with  him,  and  the  critical 
times    made     their     relations     still     closer.       The 


Count   Briihl  141 

friends  tliat  Sulkowski  made  in  various  courts 
strengthened  him  still  more,  for  he  knew  that  in 
case  of  emergency  he  could  count  on  them. 

Therefore  he  neither  feared  Briihl's  competition  nor 
anybody  else's.  Through  his  wife,  nee  Hein  Jettingen, 
he  was  sure  of  having  the  Princess  on  his  side. 

He  was  less  humble  than  Briihl,  but  a  more 
consummate  courtier,  more  daring,  in  a  word  he 
was  a  '  cavalier '  as  they  said  in  those  times,  of 
the  best  sort.  Tall  and  polished,  Sulkowski  had  not 
the  ability  necessary  for  a  prime  minister,  but 
he  was  proud  and  very  ambitious.  Less  familiar 
with  the  affairs  of  state  than  Briihl,  who  for  a  long 
time  worked  in  Augustus'  private  office,  he  was  sure 
of  the  help  of  a  man  from  whom  he  expected  assistance. 
Consequently  he  determined  to  become  a  ruler,  being 
persuaded  that  he  would  be  able  to  hold  the  position. 
Sulkowski's  way  of  living  was  more  modest  than 
Briihl's,  for  he  was  not  fond  of  luxury.  Sulkowski's 
court  was  not  very  numerous,  the  servants  not  very 
refined,  the  carriages  not  very  elegant. 

The  portfolio  was  about  to  be  handed  to  him,  when 
one  morning,  before  he  went  to  see  the  Prince,  he 
sent  for  his  man.  Sulkowski  was  reading  a  French 
book,  waiting,  when  the  councillor  Ludovici,  whom 
he  had  sent  for,  entered,  out  of  breath.  Ludovici 
held  the  same  position  with  Sulkowski  that  Henniche 
did  with  Briihl :  he  was  his  factotum,  principal  clerk 
in  his  office  and  adviser. 

One  glance  at  the  man  was  sufficient  to  indicate 
who  he  was.  His  face  bore  no  special  characteristic, 
but  it  could  change  and  assume  any  expression  that 
was  necessary.  His  whole  face  was  covered  with 
wrinkles  ;  his  eyes  were  black,  and  his  mouth  moved 


142  Count  Briihl 

so  quickly  that  it  was  impossible  to  describe  its 
shape  ;  while  in  motion  it  made  Ludovici  unpleasing. 
It  was  necessary  to  be  accustomed  to  him  in  order 
to  tolerate  him.  Fortunately  for  Sulkowski  he  was 
accustomed  to  him,  and  by  his  own  dignified  manner 
he  could  control  Ludovici's  impatience.  Having 
entered  he  leaned  on  the  chair  nearest  to  hand  and 
awaited  the  new  minister's  orders. 

Sulkowski  seemed  to  be  thinking  whether  or  not 
he  would  make  a  confidant  of  the  councillor,  and 
his  thoughtful  attitude  excited  the  latter's  curiosity, 

'  It  is  very  unpleasant,'  he  said  at  length  rising 
and  looking  out  of  the  window,  '  that  living  in  the 
court,  and  having  the  confidence  of  the  Elector  as 
I  have,  I  must  yet  resort  to  certain  precautions.' 

Ludovici  smiled,  lowered  his  eyes,  but  did  not 
dare  to  interrupt. 

'  I  can  say  frankly,'  continued  Sulkowski,  '  that 
I  am  not  afraid  of  anybody,  but  in  the  meanwhile 
I  must  not  trust  anybody.' 

'  Excellent !  Beautiful !  '  said  Ludovici,  '  we  must 
trust  no  one.  A  very  intelligent  man  once  said  to 
me  that  one  must  treat  one's  friends  in  such  a  way 
as  though  we  expected  that  to-morrow  they  would 
become  our  foes.' 

'  The  question  is  not  that  they  might  become  my 
foes,  but  that  they  shall  not  harm  me ;  but  I  must 
know  about  their  plans  and  movements.' 

*  Excellent !     Beautiful !  '  Ludovici  repeated. 

'  Until  now  this  was  not  necessary,  to-day  it 
seems  to  me  unavoidable.' 

*  Excellent !  Beautiful ! '  Ludovici  repeated.  '  Yes  ! 
we  must  have  men  who  will  keep  their  eyes  open 
on  everything.' 


Count  Briihl  143 

*Yes,  even  on  people  in  higk  positions/  said 
Sulkowski  emphatically. 

Ludovici  looked  and  being  uncertain  that  he  rightly 
caught  the  meaning  of  the  words,  waited.  He  did 
not  know  how  high  his  suspicions  would  reach. 

Sulkowski  was  unwilling  to  explain  himself  better. 

'  I  cannot,'  he  said  with  some  hesitation,  '  look 
into  all  the  official  doings  of  my  colleagues.' 

'  Official  doings  ! '  said  Ludovici,  laughing,  '  that 
is  a  trifle ;  their  private  doings  are  more  important 
to  your  Excellency.' 

*  Consequently  I  should  like  to  have — ' 

*  Excellent,  beautiful — a  little  report,'  rejoined 
Ludovici,  '  every  day,  regularly.     Written  or  verbal  ?  ' 

They  both  hesitated. 

'Verbal  will  do,'  said  Sulkowski,  'you  might 
bring  it  to  me  in  person,  after  getting  the  necessary 
material.' 

*Yes,  truly,  yes.  I — and  I  can  assure  your 
Excellency,  that  you  cannot  have  a  more  faithful 
servant.' 

Here  he  bowed  very  respectfully  and  then  raised 
his  head. 

*  I  would  take  the  liberty  of  making  some  sugges- 
tions,' Ludovici  said  softly.  'The  foreign  resident 
ministers  should  be  carefully  watched,  for  what 
else  are  they  than  official  spies  of  their  countries? 
I  do  not  exclude  even  the  Count  von  Wallen stein 
although  he  is  the  master  of  ceremonies.  And  then 
the  Prussian  Waldburg,  the  Marquise  de  Monte,  the 
resident  minister  Woodward,  the  Count  Weisbach, 
and  the  Baron  Zulich.' 

*  Ah !  my  dear  Ludovici,  very  often  the  foreign 
countries  are  not  as  dangerous  as  home  intrigues.' 


144  Count   Briihll 


*  Excellent,  beautiful,'  Ludovici  said.  *  Yes  !  Yes  ! 
Yes !  Nobody  respects  the  minister  Briihl  more 
than  I  do.' 

At  that  moment  Sulkowski  looked  at  Ludovici, 
the  councillor  at  him,  laughed,  raised  his  hand, 
turned  his  head  aside,  and  became  silent.  Thus 
they  understood  each  other. 

'  He  is  my  friend,'  said  Sulkowski,  '  a  man  whose 
great  talents  I  appreciate.' 

'Talents  —  great,  unusual,  enormous,  fearful,' 
Ludovici  affirmed  with  animation. ,  '  Oh,  yes  ! ' 

'  You  must  know  that  the  late  King  recommended 
him  very  strongly  to  the  Prince,  that  he  is  going 
to  marry  the  Countess  Kolowrath,  that  the  Princess 
thinks  much  of  him.  Notwithstanding  all  that,  you 
would  be  wrong  in  interpreting  my  thoughts  if  you 
suppose  that  I  distrust  him,  that  I  fear  him — ' 

'  Yes,  but  it  is  better  to  be  cautious,  and  it  is  neces- 
sary to  watch — through  him  flows  the  river  of  silver 
and  gold.' 

Sulkowski  changed  the  subject  of  conversation  and 
said  : 

'  They  complain  to  me  that  Watzdorf  has  too  ready 
a  tongue.' 

'  The  younger  one,'  Ludovici  interrupted,  '  yes,  yes 
unbridled,  but  it  is  a  mill  that  grinds  away  its  own 
stones  ;  his  talk  will  harm  himself  alone,  and  then  he 
cannot  help  being  angry,  because — ' 

He  did  not  finish,  for  a  loud  noise  was  heard  in  the 
ante-room.  Sulkowski  listened,  Ludovici  became 
silent,  and  his  face  and  manner  changed  ;  from  a 
courtier  he  became  a  dignified  official.  Pushing, 
interrupted  by  a  woman's  laughter,  was  heard. 
Evidently  someone  was  trying  to  enter  by  force. 


Count   Briihl  145 

Sulkowski  gave  Ludovici  to  understand  that  the 
interview  was  over  for  the  present  and  advanced 
towards  the  door,  through  which  there  appeared  a 
lady  dressed  A^ery  strangely. 

Figures  such  as  she  presented  are  seen  only  on 
screens  or  made  of  china.  Over-dressed  and  very  plain , 
thin,  sallow,  smelling  of  Veau  de  la  reine  (THongrie, 
wearing  a  large  wig,  the  little  woman  rushed  in 
looking  sweetly  at  Sulkowski  with  her  small  eyes. 

The  moment  that  this  unwelcome  guest  took  the 
room  by  storm,  Ludovici  bowed  humbly,  left  the 
room,  and  the  new-comer  looked  at  him  and  said  : 

'  Ah !  ce  cher  comte !  You  see,  you  ungrateful, 
before  you  could  learn  that  I  was  in  Dresden,  as  soon 
as  I  had  kissed  the  hand  of  my  august  pupil,  I  came 
to  see  you.     N'est  ce  pas  joli  de  via  part  ?  ' 

Sulkowski  bowed  and  wanted  to  kiss  her  hand,  but 
she  struck  him  with  her  fan  and  said : 

'  Let  that  be — I  am  old,  it  would  not  be  seemly ; 
but  let  me  sit  somewhere.' 

She  looked  round  and  sat  on  the  nearest  chair. 

*  I  must  breathe  ;  I  wanted  to  talk  to  you  privately.' 
Sulkowski  stood  before  her  ready  to  listen. 

'  Well,  we  have  lost  our  great  magnificent  Augustus. ' 
She  sighed,  so  did  Sulkowski. 

*  It's  a  pity  that  he  died,  but  between  ourselves,  he 
lived  long  enough,  he  abused  his  life  a  great  deal — I 
cannot  speak  about  that  :  des  liorreurs  !  What  will 
become  now  of  you,  poor  orphans  ?  The  Prince  ?  He 
is  inconsolable  in  his  grief  ?  True  ?  Yes  ?  I  came 
from  my  court  with  condolences  to  my  august  and 
dearest  pupil.' 

She  bent  a  little  and  leaned  on  the  arm  of  the  chair, 
raising  the  fan  to  her  mouth. 


146  Count  Briihl 

*  What  news  ?  My  dear  Count,  what  news  ?  1 
already  know  that  you  have  been  appointed  to  a 
j5osition  due  to  you.  We  are  all  glad  of  it,  for  we 
know  that  our  court  can  count  on  you.' 

Sulkowski  bowed. 

From  those  words  it  was  easy  to  guess  that  the 
new-comer  was  sent  by  the  Austrian  court.  She  was 
a  famous  teacher  of  the  Archduchess  Josephine, 
Fraulein  Kling,  whom  they  used  to  send  where  a  man 
would  attract  too  much  attention.  Fraulein  Kling 
was  one  of  the  most  able  dij)lomats  in  the  service  of 
the  Austrian  court. 

'  I  suppose  you  already  know  about  everything.' 

'  Dear  Count,  I  don't  know  anything ;  I  know  only 
that  the  Kiirfurst  loves  you,  that  Briihl  is  going  to 
help  you.     But  pray,  tell  me,  who  is  this  Briihl  ?  ' 

Sulkowski  became  thoughtful. 

'  He  is  a  friend  of  mine  !  '  he  answered  at  length. 

*  Now  I  understand.  You  know  that  the  Princess 
promised  him  the  Countess  Kolowrath's  hand  and 
that  the  girl,  as  it  seems,  does  not  fancy  him  very 
much.  Was  Briihl  not  madly  in  love  with  the 
Countess  Moszynski  ?  ' 

All  this  was  said  so  quickly,  that  it  gave  Sulkowski 
no  time  to  think  over  his  answer. 

*  Yes,'  said  he  shortly,  *  it  seems  that  he  is  going  to 
marry.' 

'  But  he  is  a  Lutheran  ?  ' 

'  He  is  going  to  be  converted  to  Catholicism.' 

'  It  is  to  be  hoped  not  in  the  same  way  as  the  late 
magnificent  and  great  Augustus  II,  who  used  to  put 
rosaries  round  the  necks  of  his  favourite  hounds.' 

Sulkowski  was  silent. 

*  What  more  ?     I  have  not  yet  seen  the  Prince — has 


Count  Briihl  147 

he  changed  ?  Has  he  become  sadder  ?  I  pity  him  ! 
Mourning — he  will  not  have  an  opera  for  a  long 
time.  And  what  about  Faustina  ?  Is  she  superseded 
by  someone  else  ? ' 

*  The  Prince  wishes  to  keep  everything  as  it  was 
during  his  late  father's  life.  Nobody  could  supersede 
Faustina.' 

*  But  she  is  old.' 

'  She  charms  with  her  voice  alone.' 

Fraulein  covered  her  face  with  her  fan  and  moved 
her  head. 

'  It  is  a  very  delicate  question,'  she  said  softly,  'for 
me  as  a  woman,  but  I  am  inquisitive,  I  must  know. 
My  dear  Count,  tell  me,  is  he  still  faithful  to  his 
wife  ?     I  love  her  so  much,  my  dear,  august  pupil ! ' 

The  Count  retreated. 

Mt  is  beyond  my  doubt,'  said  he  with  animation. 
*  The  Princess  does  not  leave  him  for  a  moment ;  she 
accompanies  him  to  the  hunting  parties,  to  Huberts- 
burg  and  Diannenburg.' 

*  In.  order  that  he  may  become  sooner  tired  of  her,' 
whispered  the  lady.  'That's  unwise — I  am  always 
afraid  of  that  passion  which  must  be  in  his  blood.' 

She  looked  at  the  Count,  who  shook  his  head. 

'  The  Prince  is  so  pious,'  said  he. 

Fraulein  Kling  covered  her  smile  with  her  fan.  The 
windows  of  the  room  in  which  they  were  sitting  looked 
on  the  square.  Although  they  spoke  quite  loudly,  some 
laughter  and  shouting  became  so  overpowering,  that 
Sulkowski,  frowning,  could  not  help  turning  towards 
the  window  to  see  what  was  going  on  in  the  street. 

In  those  times  street  noises  and  shouting  of  the  mob 
were.. very  rare.  If  anything  of  the  kind  happened 
the  cause  for  it  was  nearly  always  an  official  one.    In 


148  Count  Briihl 

this  case,  one  could  see  through  the  windows  crowds 
of  people  in  the  street,  in  the  windows  and  doors 
of  the  opposite  houses.  Amongst  the  crowd,  moving 
like  a  wave,  a  strange  procession  advanced. 

Fraulein  Kling,  very  curious,  sprang  from  her  chair 
and  rushed  to  the  window,  and,  having  pushed  aside 
the  curtain,  she  and  Sulkowski  looked  into  the  street 

The  crowd  passed  under  the  windows,  rushing 
after  a  man  dressed  in  dark  clothes  and  sitting  on  a 
donkey,  his  face  turned  toward  the  ass's  tail.  The 
donkey  was  led  by  a  man  dressed  in  red.  It  was 
painful  to  look  at  the  unfortunate  culprit,  an  elderly 
man,  bent  and  crushed  by  shame.  From  the  window 
one  could  see  his  pale  face  with  the  painful  expression 
of  a  punished  man,  who,  judging  by  his  dress,  belonged 
to  the  better  class.  His  pockets  were  full  of  papers 
sticking  out ;  his  clothes  were  unbuttoned  and 
threadbare.  A  kind  of  stupor  evidently  followed 
the  humiliation,  for  he  mechanically  clasped  the 
donkey  in  order  not  to  fall,  he  did  not  look  at  what 
was  going  on  around  him,  though  men  armed 
with  halberds  surrounded  him,  while  the  always 
merciless  crowd  threw  mud  and  small  stones  at  him. 
His  dress  and  face  was  covered  with  dirt.  The  men 
laughed,  the  children  rushed,  screamed  and  thought- 
lessly tortured  the  unfortunate  man. 

'What  is  it?'  cried  Fraulein  Kling.  *  What  is 
going  on  ?     I  don't  understand  ! ' 

'  Oh !  nothing ! '  said  Sulkowski  indifferently, '  a  very 
simple  thing.  It  cannot  be  permitted  that  any  scribbler 
can  dare  to  criticise  the  people  belonging  to  the  upper 
classes,  and  speak  about  them  disrespectfully.' 

*  Naturally,'  answered  Fraulein  Kling,  '  one  cannot 
permit  them  to  attack  the  most  sacred  things.' 


Count   Briihl  149 

'  That  man,'  said  Sulkowski,  '  is  an  editor  of  some 
paper  called  a  gazette,  or  news ;  his  name  is  Erell. 
We  noticed  that  he  took  too  many  liberties.  At 
length  he  said  something  very  outrageous  in  the 
Dresden  Merkwurdigkeiten  and  they  ordered  him  to 
be  put  on  such  a  donkey  as  he  is  himself.' 

'  Et  c'est  juste  ! '  cried  Fraulein  Kling.  '  One  must 
be  severe  with  such  people.  I  should  like  to  see  the 
same  in  Vienna,  that  w^e  might  catch  those  who 
take  the  liberty  of  speaking  about  our  secrets  in 
Hamburg  and  the  Hague.' 

They  looked  through  the  window  on  the  shouting 
crowd.  Erell,  an  old  man,  evidently  exhausted, 
swayed  to  the  right  and  to  the  left  and  seemed  likely 
to  fall  from  the  donkey.  At  the  bend  in  the  street 
he  disappeared  and  Fraulein  Kling  returned  to  her 
arm-chair ;  Sulkowski  took  another,  and  they  began 
to  talk.  The  host  however  answered  her  questions 
cautiousl}^  and  coolly. 

'  My  dear  Count,'  the  lady  at  length  added,  '  you 
must  understand  that  my  court  is  anxious  that  the 
Kurfiirst  and  his  consort  should  be  surrounded  by 
people  with  sound  common  sense.  It  is  true,  that 
officially  you  have  accepted  the  Pragmatic  Sanction, 
but — someone  might  easily  tempt  you.  My  court 
trusts  you,  my  dear  Count,  and  you  can  count  on  it, 
for  we  know  how  to  be  grateful.' 

*  I  consider  myself  the  most  faithful  servant  of  His 
Imperial  Majesty,'  said  Sulkowski :  Fraulein  Kling 
rose,  looked  in  a  mirror,  smiled  and  curtseyed. 
Sulkowski  offered  her  his  arm  and  conducted  her 
downstairs,  to  the  court  post-chaise  waiting  at  the 
door,  which  was  lifted  by  two  porters  in  yellow  livery, 
who  carried  off  the  smiling  lady.  • 


CHAPTER  X 

Soon  after  the  events  described,  one  day  after 
dinner,  which  was  served  in  those  days  before  two 
in  the  Castle,  Briihl  entered  his  house. 

On  his  face,  usually  serene,  one  could  see  traces 
of  irritation.  He  glanced  at  the  clock  and  hastened 
to  his  dressing-room.  Four  lackeys  here  waited  for 
his  Excellency,  the  fifth  was  Henniche  standing  at 
the  door  ;  his  face  was  very  sour. 

Briihl  having  noticed  him,  asked  : 

*  What  do  you  want  ?  ' 

'  A  very  important  affair,'  said  Henniche. 

*  I  have  no  time  just  now,'  said  Briihl  impatiently. 
*I  am  still  more  pressed  than  your  Excellency,' 

muttered  the  factotum. 

Seeing  that  he  would  not  be  able  to  get  rid  of  him, 
Briihl  came  to  him  and  waited  to  hear  what  he  had 
to  say.  But  the  councillor  shook  his  head,  signifying 
that  he  could  not  speak  before  witnesses.  Briihl 
took  him  into  the  next  room,  locked  the  door,  and 
said  : 

'  Speak  quickly.' 

Henniche  put  his  bony  hand  into  one  of  his  pockets, 
took  from  it  something  shining,  and  handed  it  to 
Briihl. 

It  was  a  medal  as  large  as  a  thaler.  Briihl  took  it 
to  the  window,  for  the  day  was  dark,  and  examined 
it :  one  side  of  it  represented  a  throne  with  a  man 
in  a  sitting  posture,  dressed  in  a  morning  gown  and 


Count  Briihl  151 

holding  a  pipe ;  it  \Vas  easy  to  guess  that  it  repre- 
sented the  young  Kurfiirst ;  three  men,  two  of  them 
in  pages'  costumes,  the  third  one  in  livery,  supported 
the  throne.  On  the  other  side  could  be  read  the 
following  verse  relating  to  Briihl,  Sulkowski  and 
Henniche : 

Wir  sind  unserer  drei 

Zwei  Pagen  und  ein  Lakai. 

Briihl  threw  the  medal  on  the  floor ;  Henniche 
stooped  and  picked  it  up  from  under  the  sofa  where 
it  had  rolled.     Briihl  was  angry  and  thoughtful. 

*  What  does  your  Excellency  say  to  that  ?  '  said 
Henniche. 

'What?  Give  me  the  man  who  did  it,  and  you 
shall  see,'  cried  Briihl. 

'  It  was  stamped  :in  Holland,'  said  Henniche,  '  and 
we  cannot  get  at  them  there.  But  it  came  from 
Saxony,  for  in  Holland  nobody  cares  that  I  was  a 
lackey  and  both  your  Excellencies  were  pages.  It 
came  from  Saxony  !  * 

'Then  we  must  find  the  man  who  did  it,'  cried 
Briihl.     'Don't  spare  money,  but  find  him.' 

Henniche  shrugged  his  shoulders. 

'Give  me  that  medal,'  said  Briihl.  'Where  did 
you  get  it  from  ?  ' 

'Someone  put  it  on  my  desk.  I  have  no  doubt 
you  will  find  one  also.' 

'I  shall  send  the  culprit  to  Konigstein,'  cried 
Briihl.  '  We  made  Erell  ride  on  a  donkey,  but  this 
one  will  be  safer  in  a  dungeon.' 

'In  the  first  place  we  must  find  him,'  muttered 
Henniche.     '  I  will  attend  to  that.' 

'  We  must  buy  out  the  medal  and  destroy  it  and 
you  will  find  the  culprit.     One  can  do  a  great  deal 


152  Count   Briihl 

with  a  couple  of  thousand  Itialers.  Send  some 
intelligent  man  to  Holland.' 

'I  shall  go  myself,'  said  Henniche,  'and  I  shall 
find  him.  He  would  not  be  a  man  who,  having  done 
such  a  witty  thing,  did  not  boast  about  it  to  anybody. 
We  shall  get  him.' 

Briihl  was  in  a  hurry,  so  he  nodded  and  went 
out.     Henniche  left  the  room  also. 

The  minister,  still  gloomier  now,  washed  his  face, 
dressed  carefully,  matching  his  sword,  snuff-box, 
wig  and  hat  to  his  suit.  The  carriage  waited  at  the 
door.  As  soon  as  he  got  in,  the  equipage  rolled 
towards  the  suburb  of  Wilsdurf.  At  the  entrance  to 
it,  he  stopped  the  carriage,  put  on  a  light  cloak, 
told  the  coachman  to  return,  waited  till  the  carriage 
was  at  a  certain  distance,  looked  round  carefully, 
and  seeing  only  common  people  he  advanced  and 
turned  towards  a  large  garden ;  he  followed  a  path 
till  he  came  to  a  gate  of  which  he  had  the  key ;  he 
looked  once. more  round,  opened  the  door  and  entered 
a  small  garden  at  the  end  of  which  could  be  seen  a 
modest  country  house  surrounded  by  lilac  bushes. 
The  birds  chirped  in  the  bushes — everything  else 
was  quiet. 

Briihl,  with  bent  head  and  thoughtful,  walked 
sloAvly  along  the  path  bordered  with  trees.  The  noise 
of  an  opening  window  woke  him  up.  In  the  window 
appeared  a  very  beautiful  lady  who  seemed  to  expect 
him.  He  caught  sight  of  her  and  his  face  brightened. 
He  took  off  his  hat  and  saluted  her,  putting  his  left 
hand  on  his  heart. 

Those  who  knew  the  perfect  splendour  of  the  un- 
rivalled beauty  of  the  Countess  Cosel,  then  locked  up 
in   a   solitary   castle,    would   recognise  in   the   lady 


Count   Briihl  153 

standing  at  the  window  some  likeness  to  that 
unfortunate  woman.  She  was  not  as  beautiful  as 
her  mother,  not  having  her  regular  features,  but  she 
inherited  her  dignified  and  majestic  mien  and  the 
power  of  her  glance. 

The  lady  standing  at  the  window  was  the  Countess 
Moszynski,  whose  husband  was  preparing  in  Warsaw 
for  the  election  of  the  Prince.  She  preferred  to  remain 
in  Dresden. 

When  Briihl  reached  the  threshold  she  came  to 
meet  him.  The  interior  of  the  house  was  more 
luxurious  than  one  would  have  expected  from  its 
modest  exterior.  It  was  ornamented  with  mirrors, 
luxurious  furniture  and  full  of  the  scent  of  flowers. 
In  the  first  large,  quiet  room>  there  was  a  table  set 
for  two  people,  shining  with  silver,  china  and  cut 
glass. 

'  So  late — '  whispered  the  Countess,  whose  hand 
Briihl  kissed. 

*  Yes,'  answered  the  minister,  looking  at  his  watch 
set  with  diamonds,  '  but  I  was  prevented  by  an  im- 
portant and  unpleasant  incident.' 

*  Unpleasant  ?     What  was  it  ?  ' 

^  Let  us  not  speak  about  it  to-day.  I  should  like 
to  forget  it.' I 

'  But  I  would  like  to  know  it.' 

*  My  dear  Countess,  you  shall  learn  it  in  tinie,'  said 
Briihl,  sitting  opposite  her.  '  It  is  no  wonder  that  a 
man  who  has  reached  my  position  by  degrees  has 
enemies  in  those  who  remain  behind  him,  and  who 
avenge  their  inferiority  by  calumnies.' 

The  Countess  listened  attentively,  made  a  trifling 
movement  with  her  hand,  and  said  : 

'  Calumnies  !     And  you  are  so  weak  that  you  pay 


154  Count  Briihl 

attention  to  them,  that  they  hurt  you  ?  I  should 
have  my  doubts  about  you,  my  dear  Henry,  if  you  are 
so  weak.  The  one  who  wishes  to  play  a  great  part 
in  the  world,  must  pay  no  heed  to  the  hissing  of 
spectators.  It  does  not  amount  to  anything.  If  you 
feel  hurt  by  such  trifles,  you  will  never  rise  high. 
One  must  be  superior  to  such  things.' 

'A  vile  insult,'  rejoined  Briihl. 

'  What  do  you  care  about  the  barking  of  a  dog 
behind  a  hedge  ?  ' 

'  It  irritates  me.' 

'  Be  ashamed  of  yourself.' 

'  You  do  not  know  what  there  is  in  question.' 

Having  said  this  Briihl  took  the  medal  from  his 
pocket  and  showed  it  to  the  Countess.  She  looked 
at  both  sides,  read  the  inscription,  smiled,  shrugged 
her  shoulders,  and  wanted  to  throw  it  through  the 
window,  but  Briihl  stopped  her. 

*I  need  it,'  said  he. 

'What  for?' 

'  I  must  find  out  who  did  it.  The  joke  came  from 
Saxony.     If  we  don't  punish  the  man  who  did  it — ' 

'  In  the  first  place  you  must  find  him,'  said  the 
Countess,  '  and  then  you  had  better  think  it  over,  if 
by  taking  revenge  you  would  not  be  giving  too  great 
an  importance  to  some  childish  folly.' 

'  They  are  too  daring,'  cried  Briihl.  '  We  were 
obliged  to  make  Erell  ride  a  donkey  through  the 
town,  and  it  would  be  necessary  to  send  the  man  who 
ordered  this  medal  to  be  struck,  to  Konigstein.' 

The  Countess  shrugged  her  shoulders  con- 
temptuously. 

'  Believe  me,  it  would  be  better  to  leave  vengeance 
to  Sulkowski,'  she  said.     'As  long  as  you  share  the 


Count   Briihl  155 

responsibility  of  state  affairs  with,  him,  see  that  every- 
thing painful  falls  on  him  ;  you  take  that  which  is 
agreeable.  But  I  hope  that  you  will  not  be  long  in 
partnership  with  him/  she  added. 

*  I  don't  know  how  long  it  will  last/  said  Briihl. 
*  As  far  as  I  can  see,  we  must  wait  till  he  makes  some 
mistake  through  being  too  confident  about  his  own 
powers.' 

'  You  are  right,  and  that  will  come  soon.  Sulkowski 
is  very  proud  and  too  conceited ;  he  thinks  that  he 
can  do  anything  be  likes  with  the  Prince.  One  must 
give  him  a  chance  to  turn  a  summersault.  In  the 
meantime  il  tirera  les  marrons  du  feu.'' 

The  Countess  laughed,  Briihl  remained  gloomy. 

An  intelligent-looking  servant,  wearing  high-heeled 
shoes  and  dressed  like  Liotard's  famous  '  Chocolate 
girl,'  brought  in  a  silver  soup  tureen.  She  smiled  to 
Briihl  as  she  put  the]dish  onithe  table  and  disappeared. 

The  tete  a  tete  dinner  was  animated  by  a  lively 
conversation.  The  Countess  asked  about  Fraulein 
Kling,  about  her  mission,  even  about  Briihl's  coming 
marriage. 

'  I  don't  think  that  you  will  cease  to  love  me,'  she 
said  sighing,  '  the  girl  does  not  love  you,  and  you  are 
indifferent  towards  her  ;  you  marry  to  win  favour 
with  the  Princess  and  the  old  Countess  Kolowrath  ; 
I  know  that  and  therefore  I  keep  quiet.' 

'  You  are  right,'  said  Briihl,  '  I  have  not  a  second 
beart,  and  the  one  I  had,  I  gave  to  you.  I  marry 
because  it  is  necessary,  as  it  is  necessary  also  for  me 
to  share  government  affairs  with  Sulkowski.' 

'  Try  to  become  indispensable  to  the  Prince  :  amuse 
him,  hunt  witb  him,  leave  him  as  little  as  possible. 
If  I  am  not  mistaken,  Sulkowski  will  wish  to  take  it 


156  Count   Briihl 

easy,  to  play  the  part  of  the  grand  seigneur,  yon  must 
become  indespensable  to  the  King, — I  call  him  king 
already,  for  I  am  certain  that  he  will  be  elected. 
He  must  have  somebody  always  near  him,  he  is  weak, 
and  likes  the  faces  he  is  most  accustomed  to.  You 
must  remember  all  this.' 

'  Dear  Countess  !  '  said  Briihl,  taking  hold  of  her 
hand,  'be  my  guide,  my  Egeria,  my  Providence,  and 
I  shall  be  sure  of  my  future.' 

At  that  moment  voices  were  heard  at  the  gate. 
The  servant  rushed  in  frightened.  The  Countess 
rose  frowning,  angry. 

*  What  is  it  ?  '  she  cried. 

'Some  one — I  don't  know,  somebody  from  the 
court,  with  a  letter  or  invitation,  asks  to  be  admitted.' 

'  Here  ?  But  who  could  have  told  him  that  I  was 
•here?     I  don't  receive  anyone  here.' 

Hardly  had  she  pronounced  the  last  words,  when 
amongst  the  trees  in  the  garden  appeared  a  man  in 
a  chamberlain's  dress.  The  gardener  tried  to  bar 
his  way  but  the  chamberlain,  paying  no  heed  to  him, 
advanced  slowly.  Briihl  bent  forward,  looked  through 
the  window,  recognised  Watzdorf  and  at  a  signal 
from  the  Countess  withdrew  to  the  next  room,  closing 
the  door  behind  him.  The  Countess  ordered  the 
servant  to  remove  the  second  plate  from  the  table, 
which  was  done  in  the  twinkling  of  an  eye,  but  the 
second  glass  was  forgotten.  The  Countess  sat  at  the 
table,  looking  with  uneasiness  towards  the  garden : 
she  frowned  and  trembled  with  anger.  In  the  mean- 
while Watzdorf  came  to  the  house  and  seeing  the 
Countess  through  the  window,  said  to  the  gardener : 

*  1  told  you  that  the  Countess  was  here,  I  knew  it.' 
Saying  this  he  bowed  with  an  ironical  smile,  logk- 


Count   Briih]  157 

ing  impudently  round  as  if  expecting  to  see  someone 
else. 

The  Countess  assumed  a  very  severe  expression 
when  he  entered. 

*  What  are  you  doing  here  ? '  she  asked  threateningly. 
'  I    beg    a    thousand    pardons !     I   am    the   most 

awkward  of  men  and  the  most  unfortunate  of 
chamberlains.  The  Prince  gave  me  a  letter  for  you. 
I  went  to  your  palace  but  could  not  find  you  there. 
The  Prince's  letter  is  very  urgent.  I  was  obliged 
to  try  and  find  you,  and  I  came  here.' 

'I  am  not  surprised  that  you  tracked  me  like  a 
hound,'  hissed  the  Countess,  "^  but  I  don't  like  to  be 
the  game.' 

Watzdorf  appeared  to  be  delighted  at  her  anger. 
He  glanced  at  the  chair  on  which  hung  a  napkin  left, 
by  Briihl.  The  Countess  noticed  when  he  smiled  at 
this  discovery.  She  did  not  grow  confused;  but  was 
angry  in  the  highest  degree. 

*  Where  is  that  letter  ?  '  she  asked. 

Watzdorf  smiled  ironically  and  began  to  search  his 
pockets,  muttering  in  the  meanwhile  impertinently  : 

'  Well,  this  house  is  charmingly  situated  for  two.' 

He  took  out  several  things  and  among  them  as  if 
by  accident  the  medal,  then  he  added  : 

'  Just  imagine  the  daring  of  these  agitators  !  Who 
could  have  expected  anything  like  this  ? ' 

He  put  the  medal  on  the  table  and  searched  further 
in  his  pockets.  The  Countess  took  the  medal  and 
looked  at  it,  pretending  that  she  had  not  seen  it 
before :  then  she  said  indifferently,  replacing  it  on 
the  table : 

*  A  very  poor  joke  indeed !  It  does  not  hurt 
anybody.' 


158 


Count  Briihl 


Watzdorf  looked  at  her. 

*  It  might  suggest  something  to  the  Prince.' 

*  What  ? '  asked  the  Countess. 

*  That  he  might  find  other  props,'  said  Watzdorf. 
'  Whom  ?     You,  Frosch  and  Horch  ?  ' 

*  Countess,  you  are  malicious.' 

'  With  you  one  might  become  mad.  Where  is  that 
letter  ? ' 

'  I  am  in  despair !  It  seems  that  I  have  lost 
it.' 

'Running  after  me  for  the  purpose  of  amusing 
me,'  muttered  the  Countess,  'to  disturb  me  when  I 
wish  to  be  alone.' 

*  Alone  ! '  Watzdorf  repeated,  smiling  ironically 
and  looking  at  the  chair  with  the  napkin. 

'  I  understand  you,'  the  Countess  burst  out.  '  Did 
the  Count  Moszynski  tell  you  to  spy  on  me  ?  ' 

At  that  moment  the  rustling  of  a  silk  dress  was 
heard,  and  a  lady  who  a  few  minutes  previously  had 
entered  the  room  and  slipped  behind  a  Chinese 
screen,  came  slowly  to  the  centre  of  the  room. 

Watzdorf  was  struck  dumb  with  amazement. 
There  was  something  so  unusual  in  the  apparition 
that  even  the  Countess  trembled. 

The  lady  was  tall  and  not  young ;  her  gaze  was 
piercing ;  her  mien  majestic ;  her  face  beautiful 
notwithstanding  her  age ;  she  was  dressed  so 
strangely  that  one  might  have  thought  she  was  mad. 
She  wore  a  large  gown,  bordered  with  galoons. 
The  girdle  w^orn  on  the  dress  underneath  was  golden 
with  black  cabalistic  signs  ;  on  her  black  hair  she 
wore  a  kind  of  turban  with  a  band  made  of  parch- 
ment inscribed  with  Hebrew  letters,  the  ends  of  the 
band  hansjino:  over  her  shoulders. 


Count  Briihl  159 

She  looked  piercingly  at  the  intruder,  frowned 
contemptuously,  and]said  severely  : 

'  What  do  you  wish  for  here  ?  Did  you  come  to 
spy  on  my  daughter  and  her  mother  in  order  to 
entertain  the  Prince  by  telling  him  that  you  have 
seen  the  old  Cosel?  You  son  of  "the  pagan  and 
buffoon  from  Mansfeld,"  do  you  intend  to  annoy  me 
also  ?     Get  out !     Let  us  alone  ! ' 

She  pointed  to  the  door.  Watzdorf,  confused, 
retreated.  His  eyes  shone  angrily — ^he  went  out. 
Cosel  followed  him  with  her  eyes,  then  she  turned  to 
her  daughter. 

It  was  not  her  day  for  her  visit  from  Stolpen,  and 
this  time  the  Countess  Moszynski  did  not  expect  her. 
Thinking  that  Briilil  when  he  saw  Watzdorf  go  out 
would  return,  she  grew  confused.  The  Countess  Cosel 
sat  on  the  chair  previously  occupied  by  Briihl.  After 
having  driven  off  the  intruder  she  became  almost 
absent-minded  as  she  struck  the  table  with  her  white 
and  still  beautiful  hand  and  gazed  round  the  room. 

'I  came  unexpectedly,'  she  said  at  length,  not 
looking  at  her  daughter,  *  but  you  permitted  me  to 
receive  people  here  whom  I  wished  to  see.  I  asked 
the  minister  to  come  here.' 

Moszynski 's  face  expressed  surprise. 

*  Don't  be  afraid ;  I  expect  him  only  towards 
evening,'  added  Cosel.  *  But  who  was  here  with 
you  ?     Why  did  he  hide  ?  ' 

Moszynski  was  silent,  not  knowing  what  to  answer : 
her  mother  looked  at  her  silently  with  a  kind  of  pity. 

M  understand,'  said  she  with  a  disdainful  smile. 
*  Some  court  intrigue.  New  master,  new  servants ; 
you  must  try  not  to  fall  on  that  slippery  ice.' 

What  Moszynski  was  afraid  of  happened  at  that 


160  Count   Briihl 

moment.  Briihl  appeared  at  the  door,  and  having 
perceived  the  woman  whom  he  had  never  seen  before 
but  guessed  who  she  was,  became  dumb  with  astonish- 
ment and  did  not  know  what  to  do. 

Moszynski  blushed,  then  grew  pale.  Cosel  looked 
at  the  man,  trying  as  it  seemed  to  guess  his  character. 

*  Then  it  is  he  ?  '  said  she  smiling.     '  Who  is  he  ?  ' 
'  The  minister  Briihl,'  her  daughter  answered. 

*  Everything  new  now  !  Briihl !  I  don't  remember. 
Come  nearer,'  she  said  to  Briihl,  '  don't  be  afraid. 
You  see  before  you  a  priestess  of  a  new  faith.  Have 
you  heard  of  me  ?  I  am  the  widow  of  Augustus  the 
Strong.  I  was  his  wife.  You  see  the  Countess  Cosel, 
famous  throughout  the  world  both  for  her  success  and 
her  misfortunes.  At  my  feet  lay  the  rulers  of  the 
world,  I  commanded  millions.  Augustus  loved 
nobody  but  me.' 

She  spoke  quietly  ;  her  daughter  did  not  dare  to 
interrupt  her  ;  Briihl  stood  silent,  and  leaning  a  little 
forward  seemed  to  listen  attentively. 

'  You  have  chanced  to  see  the  queen  who  has  come 
from  another  world — she  was  dead,  buried,  but  she 
is  still  living  in  order  to  convert  unbelievers  to  the 
true  faith  of  the  one  God  who  appeared  to  Moses  in  a 
burning  bush.' 

The  Countess  Moszynski  trembled  and  by  her 
furtive  looks  seemed  to  beseech  her  mother  to  be 
silent. 

Perchance  Cosel  understood  that  look,  for  she  rose 
and  said : 

'I  am  going  to  rest,  I  shall  not  interrupt  your 
councils  any  more.  Cosel' s  daughter  ought  to  rule 
over  Saxony — I  understand — ' 

Having  said  this  she  moved  majestically  towards 


Count   Briihl  i6i 

the   same   door  bj^   which  Briihl   had  entered,  and 
through  which  she  disappeared. 

By  the  other  door  the  servant  appeared  with  a  dish. 

*  I  am  going,'  whispered  Briihl,  taking  his  hat.  '  It 
is  an  unlucky  day,  but  I  am  glad  that  that  malicious 
Watzdorf  did  not  see  me  here.' 

'He  had  a  medal,'  said  the  Countess,  'he  was 
delighted  with  it :  I  see  that  he  is  your  bitter  foe. 
What  have  you  done  to  him  ?  * 

*  Nothing,  except  that  I  was  too  polite  to  him.' 

'  He  is  a  poisonous  snake,  I  know  him,'  said  the 
Countess. 

'  He  is  a  buffoon  like  his  father,'  Briihl  said  con- 
temptuously, *  but  if  he  gets  in  my  way — ' 

'  That  inscription  on  the  medal,  does  it  not  sound 
like  some  of  his  sneers  ?  ' 

Briihl  looked  at  the  Countess ;  her  suspicion 
seemed  to  be  probable. 

'  I  shall  give  orders  that  he  is  to  be  watched,'  he 
said  shortly.  '  If  it  is  as  you  think,  he  is  not  long  for 
this  world.' 

Having  said  this  he  kissed  the  Countess's  hand, 
took  his  mantle,  thrown  into  a  dark  corner  near  the 
door  and  therefore  not  observed  by  Watzdorf,  and 
went  out. 

He  returned  by  the  same  path  by  which  he  came 
full  of  hope  for  a  long  and  free  conversation  ;  now  he 
was  thinking  how  he  could  return  home  without 
being  noticed. 

He  passed  the  gate  neglecting  to  keep  a  look-out 
and  he  needed  all  his  presence  of  mind  in  order  not 
to  betray  his  emotion,  when  he  perceived  Watzdorf 
standing  opposite  and  saluting  him  with  an  ironical 
smile. 


162  Count   Briihl 

Briihl  returned  the  salute  with  perfect   ease   and 

amiability. 

'  You  here  ! '  Briihl  exclaimed.     '  How  glad  I  am  !  * 
'  It  is  I  who  can  call  myself  happy/  said  Watzdorf, 

^  for  I  never  expected  to  meet  your  Excellency  under 

the  apple  trees.     If  I  remember  well,  the  fruit  of  an 

apple  tree  is  called  forbidden.' 

*  Yes,'  said  Briihl  laughing.  '  But  I  did  not  come 
for  forbidden  fruit.  The  Countess  Cosel  wished  to 
see  me,  for  she  has  a  request  to  make  to  the  Prince.' 

There  was  so  much  probability  in  it  that 
Watzdorf  became  confused. 

*  And  you,  chamberlain,  what  are  you  doing  in  the 
country  ?  '  asked  Briihl. 

'  I  was  searching  for  happiness  which  I  cannot  find 
elsewhere,'  Watzdorf  muttered. 
^  Under  the  apple  trees  ?  ' 
'  One  might  find  it  more  easily  there  than  at  court.' 

*  I  see  you  do  not  like  court  life  ?  ' 

*I  have  no  talent  for  it,'  ansAvered  Watzdorf 
walking  beside  Briihl. 

'  But  you  have  wit,  a  sharp  tool,  with  which  you 
need  not  be  afraid  of  anything.' 

*  Yes,  it's  a  good  tool  for  making  enemies,'  said 
Watzdorf. 

They  walked  in  silence  for  a  while.  Watzdorf 
appearing  to  think  over  something. 

*I  have  not  yet  had  the  opportunity  to  present 
my  congratulations  to  your  Excellency,'  said  he. 

'What? 'asked  Briihl. 

*  They  say  that  the  most  able  minister  is  going 
to  marry  the  most  beautiful  young  lady  in  the 
court.' 

There  was  so  much  passion  in  his  voice,  that  it 


Count   Briihl  i63 

struck  Briihl  suddenly  that  Watzdorf  might  be  the 
man  whom  the  beautiful  Frances  loved.  It  was  only 
a  supposition,  or  rather  a  presentiment.  Briihl 
trembled.  'If  that  is  so,  then  the  author  of  the 
medal  and  the  beloved  of  my  future  wife  must  be 
put  in  a  safe  place,'  he  thought. 

But  nothing  was  yet  proved.  They  looked  at 
each  other  smiling,  but  with  hatred  in  their  hearts. 
The  more  Briihl  hated  anyone  the  more  sweet  he 
was  towards  him :  it  was  not  in  vain  that  he  had 
been  brought  up  in  the  school  of  Augustus  the 
Strong. 

*Your  Excellency  neglects  the  Prince,'  said 
Watzdorf.  'The  Count  Sulkowski  is  too  busy, 
and  Frosch  and  Horch  and  Padre  Guarini  do  not 
suffice  for  him.' 

Briihl  smiled  as  sweetly  as  he  could. 

*  You  are  right,  I  should  like  to  compete  even  with 
Frosch  and  Horch  to  amuse  our  gracious  Prince, 
but  I  have  no  -time,  for  I  must  try  to  conquer  the 
heart  of  the  young  lady  of  whom  you  have  just 
made  mention.' 

'That  is  not  necessary,'  said  Watzdorf,  'the  one 
who  shall  have  her  hand,  and  the  rest — does  not 
need  her  heart.  It  might  be  left  to  someone  else. 
Your  Excellency  has  an  excellent  example  of  this 
in  the  Count  Moszynski,  who  does  not  care  for  his 
wife's  heart.' 

Briihl  blushed ;  he  stopped,  still  smiling,  but  he 
was  out  of  patience  with  this  preaching  man. 

'  My  dear  sir,'  he  said,  '  let  us  speak  frankly  : 
have  I  done  you  any  wrong  that  you  should  prick 
me,  or  is  it  only  a  habit  of  yours  to  bite  everybody  ?  ' 

'  Both,'  answered  Watzdorf,  '  but  I  did  not  expect 


164  Count  Briihl 

that  such  a  giant  as  your  Excellency  would  feel  the 
pricking  of  such  a  small  fly  as  I  am.' 

*I  feel  no  pain,'  said  Briihl,  'but  it  tickles  me. 
Would  is  not  be  better  to  make  a  friend  of  me  ? ' 

Watzdorf  laughed. 

'  Ministers  have  no  friends,'  he  said,  ^  it  is  written 
in  the  most  elementary  catechism  of  politicians.' 

Here  Watzdorf  saluted  and  turned  into  a  side 
street. 

It  was  something  like  a  declaration  of  war.  Briihl 
was  struck  dumb  with  astonishment. 

'  He  declares  war  ?  He  must  be  crazy !  Why 
such  a  dislike  towards  me  ?     I  must  find  out !  ' 

He  went  swiftly  homeward.  As  soon  as  he  entered 
his  house,  he  went  to  Henniche's  ofiice.  Henniche 
was  a  little  surprised  at  seeing  him. 

*  Give  orders  that  Chamberlain  Watzdorf  is  to  be 
watched,'  said  Briihl.  '  But  as  Watzdorf  is  very 
cunning  you  must  choose  a  man  more  cunning  than 
he.  Bribe  Watzdorf's  servants  and  search  his 
papers.' 

*  Watzdorf  ?  '  repeated  Henniche  surprised.  '  Have 
you  any  reason  to  suspect  him  ?  ' 

*Yes.' 

'  Must  he  be  sacrificed  ? ' 

Briihl  was  thoughtful  for  a  while. 

'  We  shall  see,'  he  said,  *  I  don't  like  to  make 
enemies,  but  if  it  is  necessary — ' 

'  Is  he  in  the  way  ?  ' 

'  I  don't  like  him.' 

'  One  can  always  find  something  against  him.' 

'Yes,  find  it  then,  and  have  it  in  store,'  muttered 
Briihl.  '  I  always  tried  to  be  amiable.  I  must  show 
now  that  I  can  be  threatening,' 


Count   Briihl  165 

Henniclie  looked  at  hiin  ironically — Briilil  left 
the  room  without  leaving  noticed  it. 

Watzdorf,  who  at  the  turn  of  the  road  separated 
from  Briihl,  walked  swiftly  at  first,  then  slowly, 
wandering  without  any  aim.  His  face  was  gloomy, 
for  he  felt  that  in  satisfying  his  own  irritation  he 
had  committed  a  grave  mistake  which  he  would 
redeem  very  dearly.  He  was  too  angry  with  Briihl 
to  be  able  to  control  himself. 

Watzdorf  although  brought  up  at  the  court  and 
accustomed  to  look  at  its  perversity,  which  might 
corrupt  him  also,  was  a  man  to  be  feared  for  his 
honesty  and  integrity.  All  who  surrounded  him 
shocked  him.  The  air  which  he  breathed  seemed 
to  him  infected  and  he  w^as  disgusted  with  it. 

His  love  for  Frances  Kolowrath  also  contributed 
to  make  him  hate  the  world,  which  had  corrupted 
the  beautiful  girl.  He  saw  all  her  faults  :  coquettish- 
ness,  levity,  pride,  egotism  and  lack  of  heart,  but 
notwithstanding  that,  he  loved  her  madly,  weeping 
over  her  and  himself.  All  her  drawbacks  he 
attributed  to  her  education,  to  the  court  and  its 
customs,  the  air  which  she  breathed. 

He  was  in  despair. —  All  noticed  lately  that 
Watzdorf  had  grown  gloomy  and  irritable  to  a 
degree.  If  he  could  he  would  avenge  her  on 
somebody,  and  as  Briihl  was  Frances's  fiance,  on  him 
he  concentrated  his  whole  anger. 

The  courtiers,  his  former  friends,  avoided  Watzdorf : 
some  of  them  spoke  frankly,  that  he  was  smelling  like 
a  corpse. 

Having  nothing  else  to  do  he  went  almost 
mechanically  towards  Faustina's  house.  The  first 
part    of    the    mourning  was   over  and   there   were 


166  Count  Briihl 

already  whispers  of  an  opera.  Sulkowski  and  Briilil 
knowing  how  fond  the  Prince  was  of  music  and  of 
Faustina,  were  inclined  to  persuade  him  to  have 
a  performance. 

Although  Hasse  was  the  husband  of  the  diva  they 
did  not  live  together.  II  divino  Sassone,  as  the 
Italians  called  him,  occupied  a  separate  house. 
Faustina's  house  was  luxuriously  furnished.  She 
gave  the  orders  for  each  performance,  and  received 
those  who  applied  for  appointments  at  the  theatre. 

Watzdorf  asked  the  lackey  if  his  mistress  was 
at  home,  and  received  an  answer  in  the  affirmative. 
When  announced,  and  entering  the  drawing-room, 
he  found  the  beautiful  Italian  standing  in  the  centre 
of  the  room ;  while  Padre  Guarini,  dressed  in 
civilian's  clothes  was  walking  to  and  fro.  His  face 
was  smiling  while  Faustina  was  red  with  anger. 

Guarini,  seeing  Watzdorf,  said  to  him,  pointing 
to  the  singer : 

*  Look  what  this  woman  is  doing  with  me,  the 
most  peaceful  man  in  the  world.  Furioso  diavolo ! 
Furioso  I     If  she  was  singing  instead  of  shrieking — ' 

Faustina  turned  to  Watzdorf. 

*Be  my  witness,'  she  shrieked,  *he  wishes  to  make 
a  puppet  of  me  that  I  may  not  have  my  own  will. 
To-morrow  his  protege  would  ruin  my  theatre.  No, 
he  must  be  dismissed  ! ' 

'  Why  ? '  said  Guarini  quietly.  '  Because  the 
beautiful  youth  does  not  admire  you?  Because  he 
prefers  the  bhie  eyes  of  the  Frenchwoman  to  yours  ?  ' 

Faustina  clapped  her  hands. 

*  Do  you  hear  him,  that  abominable  prete  ? '  cried 
she.  '  Do  I  need  his  homage  ?  Have  I  not  enough 
of  that  ?     I  am  disgusted  with  it !  ' 


Count  Briihl  i67 

'  Yes,  as  if  woman  had  ever  enough  of  it,'  laughed 
Guarini. 

'  But  about  whom,  is  this  question  ? '  asked 
Watzdorf. 

*  Un  'poverino  ! '  the  Jesuit  answered,  ^  whom  that 
pitiless  woman  wished  to  drive  from  the  theatre.' 

*  Un  assassino  !  Un  traditore !  Una  spia ! '  cried 
Faustina. 

Watzdorf,  although  feeling  sad,  was  amused  by 
this  quarrel  between  a  priest  and  an  actress. 

*  I  shall  reconcile  you,'  said  he,  '  wait !  ' 

They  both  looked  at  him,  for  the  reconciliation  was 
a  doubtful  one. 

*Let  the  culprit  go,'  said  Watzdorf,  'and  in  his 
place,  as  a  good  actor  is  necessary,  put  one  of  the 
ministers.  There  are  no  better  actors  than  they  ! 
And  as  Faustina  would  not  quarrel  with  a  minister, 
there  will  be  peace.' 

Guarini  nodded,  Faustina  became  silent,  and  threw 
herself  on  a  sofa.  The  Jesuit  took  the  chamberlain 
by  the  arm  and  led  him  to  the  window. 

'  Carissimo ! '  he  said  sweetly,  '  it  is  still  very  far  to 
hot  weather,  and  you  seem  already  to  be  sun-struck.' 

'  No,  I  am  not  mad  yet,'  said  Watzdorf,  '  I  cannot 
guarantee,  however,  that  I  shall  not  become  mad  soon.' 

'  What  is  the  matter  with  you  ?     Confess  ! ' 

'  Shall  Faustina's  knee  be  a  confessional  ?  ' 

'  What  a  heathen ! '  laughed  the  Jesuit,  *  What 
is  the  matter  with  you  ?     Tell  me  ! ' 

'  The  world  seems  to  me  stupid,  that's  all ! ' 

'Carissimo!  Perdona^'  said  the. Jesuit.  'But  it 
seems  to  me  that  you  are  stupid,  if  you  say  such 
things.  I  shall  give  you  some  advice.  When  you 
have  an  excess  of  bad  humour,  go  into  the  forest ; 


168  Count  Briihl 

there  you  may  swear  as  much  as  you  like,  shout 
as  much  as  you  like,  and  then  return  to  town 
quieted.  You  know  that  in  old  times  they  used  that 
remedy  for  those  who  could   not  hold  their  tongues.' 

Watzdorf  listened  indifferently. 

'I  pity  you,'  added  Guarini. 

*  If  you  knew  how  I  pity  you  all,'  Watzdorf  sighed 
*  But  who  could  say  whose  pity  is  the  better  ? ' 

'  Then  let  us  leave  it,'  said  the  Jesuit  taking  his 
hat.     He  came  to  Faustina  and  bowed  to  her  humbly. 

'  Once  more  I  pray  your  Excellency  for  the  poverino, 
don't  dismiss  him  for  my  sake.' 

'  You  can  do  what  you  please  without  me,'  answered 
Faustina,  '  but  should  you  force  me  to  sing  with 
him,  I  give  you  my  word  that  I  shall  slap  his  face 
in  public' 

Guarini  inclined  his  head,  bowed,  and  went  to 
the  Prince  with  his  report. 

It  was  the  hour  of  rest  which  Frederick  enjoyed 
after  doing  nothing  the  whole  day.  The  hour  in 
which  he  smoked  his  pipe,  enjoyed  the  tricks  of 
Frosch  and  Horch,  and  the  company  of  Briihl  and 
Sulkowski,  for  no  one  else  could  see  him  then. 

Guarini  entered  whenever  he  liked.  He  was  the 
more  amiable  companion.  The  Prince  was  fond 
of  laughing,  and  Guarini  made  him  laugh :  when 
he  wanted  to  be  silent,  Guarini  was  silent :  when 
asked  a  question,  he  answered  mirthfully,  never 
contradicting. 

Briihl  was  alone  in  the  room  with  the  Kurfiirst.  He 
stood  at  the  master's  chair  and  whispered  something. 
The  Prince  listened  attentively  and  nodded. 

'  Father,  do  you  hear  what  Briihl  says  ?  '  said  the 
Prince  to  the  Jesuit  as  he  entered. 


Count  Briihl  i69 

Guarini  came  nearer. 

*  Speak  on,'  said  Frederick. 

Briihl  began  to  talk,  looking  significantly  at 
Guarini. 

'  He  is  ironical,  and  for  a  long  time  has  been  too 
biting  and  too  bitter.' 

'  Oh  !     That's  too  bad  ! '  the  Prince  whispered. 

*  About  whom  is  this  question  ?  '  asked  the  Jesuit. 

^  I  have  dared  to  call  his  Royal  Highness' s  attention 
to  Chamberlain  Watzdorf.' 

Guarini  recalled  his  meeting  with  the  man. 

'  The  fact  is,'  he  said,  '  that  I  also  find  him  strange.' 

*  And  at  the  court  it  is  contagious,'  Briihl  added. 
The  Prince  sighed,  evidently  already  bored,  and 

did  not  answer. 

*  Where  is  that  fool  Frosch  ?  '  he  said  suddenly. 
*  I  am  sure  he  is  already  asleep  in  some  corner.' 

The  Jesuit  ran  to  the  door  and  made  a  sign. 
Frosch  and  Horch  rushed  into  the  room  so  precipi- 
tously that  Horch  fell  down  and  Frosch  jumped  on 
his  back.     The  Prince  began  to  laugh  heartily. 

The  humiliated  Horch  tried  to  avenge  him- 
self on  his  adversary,  rose,  thinking  that  he  could 
shake  him  off,  but  the  cautious  little  man  slipped 
down  and  hid  behind  a  chair. 

Frederick's  eyes  followed  them — ^he  was  anxious  to 
see  the  result  of  the  contest.  Behind  the  chair  both 
fools,  squealing,  began  to  fight.  Frederick  laughed 
and  forgot  all  about  what  he  had  heard  that  day.  It 
would  be  difficult  to  say  how  long  this  would  have 
lasted  if  Guarini  had  not  whispered  to  the  Prince  that 
it  was  time  to  go  to  the  chapel  for  prayers  ;  the  Prince 
becoming  suddenly  grave  went  with  the  Jesuit  to  the 
chapel,  where  the  Princess  was  already  awaiting  them. 


CHAPTER  XI 

One  day  towards  evening  both  the  great  ministers 
were  sitting  in  Sulkowski's  house  :  they  were  silent 
and  seemed  to  try  to  penetrate  each  other's  thoughts. 
Through  the  open  window  came  the  joyful  chirping 
of  the  birds  and  the  rumbling  of  carriages. 

The  faces  of  the  two  rivals  to  a  close  observer 
bore  a  striking  difference.  One  who  looked  at 
Briihl  at  a  moment  when  he  thought  he  was 
not  observed,  would  have  seen  under  that  sweet 
smile  a  cold  perversity,  the  depths  of  which 
were  frightening.  In  his  eyes  could  be  seen  the 
keenness  and  cunning  of  a  society  man  who 
guesses  and  understands  everything,  who  pene- 
trates the  springs  of  social  movements  and  does 
not  hesitate  to  take  hold  of  them,  if  he  can  do  so 
safely,  and  provided  they  can  be  turned  to  his  own 
advantage. 

Sulkowski  was  a  proud  petty  noble,  who  having 
become  a  lord,  thought  that  he  was  so  sure  of  his 
high  position/  that  he  believed  everything  was  sub- 
servient to  him.  He  treated  Briihl  as  malum  neces- 
sarium  and  looked  down  upon  him  i  with  that 
superiority,  sure  of  itself,  which  shuts  its  eyes  to 
peril.  He  was  not  lacking  in  ideas,  but  he  was  lazy 
and  disliked  every  effort. 

Looking  on  them  it  was  easy  to  guess  the  result 
of  so  unequal  a  fight,  for  never  did  a  beautiful  face 
conceal   more   falsehood   than   that   of   Briihl,   who, 


Count  Briihl  in 

wlien  he  knew  that  he  was  watched,  could  assume 
an  innocent,  childlike  expression. 

Two  men  of  such  calibre,  placed  in  opposition, 
could  not  help  fighting,  but  they  did  not  fight  yet ; 
on  the  contrary  they  seemed  to  be  the  best  of  friends. 
Some  instinct  made  Sulkowski  feel  that  Briihl  was 
his  antagonist,  but  he  laughed  at  the  idea.  Briihl 
was  perfectly  aware  that  he  would  not  be  able  to 
rule  absolutely  over  the  Prince,  until  he  overthrew 
Sulkowski,  who  furnished  arms  against  himself. 
Although  he  could  dissimulate  and  wait,  Sulkowski 
sometimes  avowed  to  himself,  that  he  disliked  the 
omnipotence  of  the  Jesuit  at  the  court,  and  that  the 
Princess's  influence  also  stood  in  his  way. 

He  did  not  make  Briihl  his  confidant,  but  he  did 
not  exercise  sufficient  caution  and  permitted  him  to 
guess.  While  Briihl  and  Guarini  were  the  best  of 
friends  Sulkowski  kept  aloof  from  him.  He  was 
very  respectful  towards  the  Princess,  but  did  not 
try  to  win  her  particular  favour.  Sometimes  he 
would  say  something  that  would  have  passed  muster 
under  the  rule  of  Augustus,  but  was  unadvisable 
with  so  severe  a  Princess. 

Father  Guarini,  knowing  that  the  Prince  was  fond 
of  him,  bowed  to  him  but  kept  his  distance. 

He  very  seldom  met  Briihl  alone,  as  one  of  them 
was  obliged  to  be  always  with  the  Prince,  to  keep 
him  amused. 

Evidently  they  had  said  all  they  had  to  say  to  each 
other,  for  Sulkowski  was  silent,  and  Briihl  did  not 
interrupt  him,  but  he  did  not  leave  him,  plainly 
wishing  to  say  something  further  before  he  left. 

After  a  long  silence,  the  Count  said  : 

'  All  that  must  remain  entre  nous.     The  house  of 


172  Count   Briihl 

Hapsburg  is  near  an  end,  the  glory  of  the 
Saxon  family  should  begin.  I  know  well,,  that  we 
gave  up  all  right  of  inheritance,  that  we  accepted  the 
Pragmatic  Sanction,  but  with  the  death  of  the 
Emperor,  things  must  take  another  turn  for  us. 
We  should,  at  least,  take  Bohemia,  even  Silesia, 
recompensing  Prussia  elsewhere.  I  told  you  that 
I  made  a  plan.  I  told  Ludovici  to  make  a  copy 
of  it.' 

'I  should  like  to  have  it  and  to  think  it  over,' 
said  Briihl.  '  The  plan  is  good  and  worthy  of  you 
and  most  important  for  the  future  of  Saxony.  I 
need  hardly  say  that  it  will  give  me  great  pleasure 
to  assist  in  its  realisation.  You  have  in  me  the 
most  zealous  helper  and  servant.  Tell  Ludovici  to 
make  a  copy  for  me.' 

*I  do  not  wish,'  said  Sulkowski  flattered  by  his 
approval,  '  that  this  plan  for  the  division  of  Austria 
be  seen  twice  by  Ludovici.  I  shall  make  a  copy  of 
it  myself.' 

Briihl  smiled  very  sweetly. 

'It  would  be  a  great  favour,'  he  said,  'the  means 
of  realising  such  a  wonderful  project  must  be  thought 
over  beforehand.     One  could  find  in  Berlin — ' 

'  Ah  !  '  said  Sulkowski  smiling,  '  there  is  no  doubt 
that  it  will  be  well  received  there  :  I  rest  assured 
that  Prussia  is  our  best  friend.' 

'I  agree  with  you,'  said  Briihl,  'the  question  is 
only  that  they  might  not  wish  too  much.' , 

'  But  it's  not  yet  time  to  treat  about  it.' 

*  But  it  is  to  prepare  the  way  for  the  strategy  we 
are  going  to  use.' 

After  saying  this,  Briihl  rose  and  observed  care- 
lessly : 


Count  Briihl  173 

'  I  am  almost  certain  that  that  medal  was  stamped 
by  someone  from  Dresden,  and  I  have  my  suspicions 
as  to  who  did  it.' 

Sulkowski  turned  to  him. 

*  Who  could  be  that  daring  man  ?  ' 

'  Who  could  be,  if  not  a  courtier,  who  is  confident 
that  his  position  will  protect  him  ?  A  man  of  small 
importance  would  not  dare,  for  he  Would  know  that 
it  would  bring  him  in  contact  with  the  executioner 
and  the  pillory.' 

'  Yes,  but  as  he  attacked  our  august  lord,  he  might 
meet  with  something  worse,  because  we  could  not 
overlook  that.' 

'  I  think  likewise  !  '  said  Briihl.  '  They  are  already 
too  daring  and  the  good-heartedness  of  our  Prince 
and  your  magnanimity  give  them  still  more  courage. 
Have  you  noticed  how  daring  Watzdorf  junior  is  ?  ' 

Sulkowski  looked  at  Briihl  with  pity. 

'You  don't  like  Watzdorf,'  he  said.  'He  is  a 
buffoon  like  his  father,  but  not  dangerous.' 

'  Excuse  me,'  said  Briihl  with  animation.  '  The 
one  who  trifles  with  everything,  will  not  respect 
anything.  He  will  harm  me,  and  you,  my  dear 
Count,  and  at  length,  our  gracious  lord.' 

'  He  would  not  dare.' 

Then  taking  hold  of  Briihl's  button,  he  said 
confidentially : 

*  Tell  me  frankly,  why  do  you  dislike  him  ?  ' 
'He  annoys  me,'  said  Briihl,  'by  his  jokes.' 

'I  think  you  imagine,'  Sulkowski  continued,  'that 
he  is  in  love  with  Frances  Kolo wrath.' 

'  I  should  not  mind  that,  because  it  would  prove  his 
good  taste,'  said  Briihl  apparently  with  indifference, 
although  he  was  irritated. 


174  Count   Briihl 

*  But  he  annoys  the  Countess  Moszynski  for  whom 
I  have  the  greatest  regard.' 

'  Ah ! '  exclaimed  Sulkowski  laughing. 

'The  Countess  could  defend  herself,'  Briihl  said. 

*  She  could  ask  the  Prince  to  punish  the  man,  but 
the  worst  of  it  is  that  he  slanders  us  all,  without  any 
exception.' 

'  What  ?     Me  also  ? '  asked  Sulkowski. 

*  I  could  prove  it  to  you.' 

'  It  would  be  too  daring !  '  said  Sulkowski. 
'  Take  my  word  for  it.     I  think  that  he  ordered  that 
medal  to  be  struck — '  said  Briihl. 

'  It  is  only  a  suspicion,  my  dear  Briihl.' 

'  Perhaps  it  is  more  than  a  suspicion,'  said  Briihl. 

*  I  am  certain  that  he  personally  gave  away  four  such 
medals.' 

'  To  whom  ?  ' 

. '  To  the  people  belonging  to  the  court.  Where 
does  he  get  so  many  of  them  ?  And  why  such  zeal 
in  distributing  a  medal  which  I  buy  out  and  destroy  ?  ' 

'  But  are  you  certain  of  it  ?  ' 

*  Henniche  will  furnish  you  with  the  names  of  the 
people.' 

^  That  alters  the  question,'  Sulkowski  said.  'It  is 
a  fact,  and  although  I  explain  it  by  his  animosity 
towards  you,  it  hurts  me  also.' 

'  To  be  quite  certain,'  Briihl  remarked,  '  I  must  tell 
you  frankly,  that  I  ordered  secret  search  to  be  made  in 
his  rooms.  A  number  of  those  medals  were  found, 
which  left  no  doubt  that  he  was  the  author  of  them 
and  you  must  punish  him  for  that.  In  your  high 
position  you  might  be  indifferent,'  Briihl  continued 
with  well-played  animation,  '  but  for  such  a  small 
man  as  I  am — ' 


Count  Briihl  175 

Sulkowski  frowned. 

^  I  never  could  suspect  that  Watzdorf  would  be 
capable  of  such  villainy.' 

'  You  shall  have  proofs  of  it,  but,  in  that  case,  I 
shall  not  act  without  you ;  only  I  beg  of  you  to 
punish  him.     To  Konigstein — ' 

Sulkowski  became  thoughtful. 

'  I  would  pity  him,'  he  said,  '  but  if  he  is  guilty — ' 

*  I  shall  not  ask  the  Prince  to  do  that — you  must 
act.  I  am  your  servant,  your  assistant.  I  am  nobody, 
and  I  don't  wish  to  be  anybody  by  myself :  my 
warmest  wish  is  to  remain  Sulkowski's  right  hand.' 

Sulkowski  took  his  hand  and  said  with  his  usual 
pride : 

'  I  wish  to  have  you  for  my  friend,  only  my  friend, 
my  dear  Briihl,  and  for  my  part,  I  shall  serve  you 
^s  a  friend.     I  need  you,  and  I  can  be  useful  to  you.' 

They  shook  hands ;  Briihl  played  admirably  the 
part  of  being  moved. 

'  Listen,  Briihl,  I  speak  as  a  friend  ;  many  people 
know  that  Watzdorf  is  in  love  with  Frances ;  if  you 
wish  to  get  rid  of  him  for  that  reason,  believe  me 
they  will  accuse  you  and  not  me.' 

Briihl  simulated  surprise  also  admirably. 

'  My  dear  Count,'  he  said  with  animation,  '  I  am 
not  jealous  at  all,  but  I  can  be  for  my  lord's  and  your 
honour.  To-day  they  attack  us  as  well  as  the  throne, 
to-morrow  they  will  attack  our  gracious  lord  alone. 
We  must  prevent  that.' 

'You  are  right,'  said  Sulkowski  coolly,  'but  we 
must  prove  that  he  is  guilty.' 

'  Naturally,'  said  Briihl,  going  towards  the  door. 

*  Au  revoirl ' 

Yes,  at  the  shooting,'  said  Briihl.     'The  Prince, 


176  Count    Briihl 

needs  some  distraction,  and  we  must  furnish  it — He 
is  passionately  fond  of  shooting — It  is  such  an 
innocent  amusement.' 

BriihLhastened,  for  it  was  time  to  go  to  the  park 
where  targets  were  placed,  and  the  court  was  going 
there.  They  did  not  wish  to  shoot  in  the  castle 
grounds  in  order  to  preserve  the  appearance  of 
mourning. 

In  the  park,  situated  near  Dresden,  the  court  often 
found  enjoyment.  Beautiful  avenues  of  linden  trees, 
enormous  beech  trees  and  oaks,  a  great  number  of 
statues,  and  a  lake,  made  that  spot  one  of  the  most 
charming  round  Dresden.  It  was  situated  only  about 
half  an  hour  from  the  capital.  The  park  in  which 
there  was  an  amphitheatre  was  surrounded  by  a 
densely  wooded  forest.  The  scent  of  freshly  opened 
buds  and  the  quiet  made  the  place  charming. 

The  targets  were  placed  in  the  amphitheatre. 
Father  Guarini,  not  satisfied  with  the  preparations 
made  by  the  huntsmen,  and  knowing  Frederick's 
character,  wanted  to  prepare  some  surprise  for  him 
and  was  busy  all  the  morning.  Not  far  from  the 
amphitheatre  a  shanty  was  erected,  at  which  a  guard 
was  placed  with  orders  not  to  allow  anybody  in,  for 
it  contained  Father  Guarini's  secret.  Three  times 
the  Jesuit  came  with  some  boxes,  and  every  time  he, 
and  several  men  who  helped  him,  remained  there 
quite  a  long  time.  The  Jesuit's  face  beamed  with 
satisfaction  when  he  came  for  the  last  time. 
Evidently  he  had  got  everything  ready,  for,  when 
the  rumbling  of  carriages  were  heard,  the  Jesuit 
putting  his  hands  behind  his  back,  walked  quietly 
down  the  avenue  leading  to  the  amphitheatre.  The 
royal  carriages,  preceded  by  the  runners,  with  lackeys 


Count  Briihl  177 

in  front  and  rear,  cavaliers  on  horseback,  and  beauti- 
ful ladies,  arrived  one  after  another.  The  Prince 
was  accompanied  by  his  consort  who  never  would 
leave  him,  especially  when  there  were  ladies  in  the 
party.  The  Countess  Kolowrath  with  her  daughter, 
ladies-in-waiting,  chamberlains,  pages,  followed  the 
Prince.  Sulkowski  and  Briihl  in  elegant  hunting 
costumes  walked  beside  him. 

The  rifles  were  ready,  the  huntsmen  in  charge  and 
the  pages  were  to  hand  them.  As  Frederick  got  ready 
to  shoot,  Father  Guarini  appeared  in  the  right-hand 
alley.  He  pretended  to  be  very  much  surprised  to 
see  the  court :  he  approached  the  Prince  humbly,  and 
exclaimed  : 

'  Ah !  Your  Highness,  what  do  I  see  ?  Shooting 
at  the  target — what  a  splendid  amusement ! ' 

'  Is  it  not  ? '  said  Frederick  laughing,  *  but  you 
shoot  only  at  souls.' 

'  And  not  very  fortunately  either — I  miss  very 
often,'  rejoined  the  Jesuit  sighing.  '  Here  the  com- 
petitition  will  be  splendid.    But  where  are  the  prizes.' 

'  What  prizes  ?  '  the  Prince  asked,  a  little  surprised. 

^Your  Highness  must  pardon  me,'  answered 
Guarini,  '  but  to  put  it  plainly,  those  who  prove  the 
best  marksmen  ought  to  get  some  souvenir  for  their 
skill.' 

*I  had  not  thought  of  that,'  the  Prince  replied, 
looking  round  as  if  searching  for  someone. 

'  If  it  is  permitted  me,'  said  Guarini  bowing,  '  I 
will  offer  five  prizes.  I  cannot  give  much,  for  I  am 
poor,  but  for  the  amusement  of  my  beloved  lord,  I 
deposit  my  modest  gift  at  his  feet.' 

The  Prince's  eyes  brightened. 

'What?     What?'  he  asked. 


178 


Count   Briihl 


*  It  is  my  secret ! '  said  tlie  Padre, '  I  cannot  disclose 
it  until  tlie  riglit  time.' 

He  pointed  to  the  shanty. 

*  My  prizes  are  there.  There  are  five  of  them  for 
the  five  best  shots.' 

It  looked  like  some  funny  joke,  for  Father  Guarini 
was  always  most  anxious  to  amuse  the  Prince ;  very 
often  his  jokes  were  not  very  new  or  very  elegant, 
but  he  always  succeeded  in  making  Frederick  laugh. 

'You  make  me  anxious  to  see  your  prizes,'  said 
Frederick. 

*  The  only  condition  I  would  make,  is  that  your 
Highness  does  not  compete.  There  is  no  doubt  that 
nobody  here  shoots  better,  but  I  have  not  prepared  a 
prize  worthy  of  your  royal  hand.     Consequently — ' 

The  eloquence  in  his  eyes  ended  the  sentence. 

Frederick  began  to  shoot  first.  Being  used  to  a 
rifle  since  he  was  a  mere  boy,  it  was  true  that  very 
few  people  could  compete  with  him,  and  directly  he 
took  hold  of  a  rifle  he  became  so  absorbed  in  the 
sport  that  he  paid  no  attention  to  anything  else. 

The  targets  were  so  arranged  that  if  the  ball  struck 
the  centre,  a  white  and  green — Saxon  colours — little 
flag  sprang  out :  a  yellow  and  black  flag — colours  of 
Dresden — marked  the  first  circle  beyond  the  centre  ; 
and  a  black  flag  marked  the  further  circles. 

When  Frederick  began  to  shoot  and  hit  the  centre 
with  one  ball  after  another,  he  was  applauded  by  the 
whole  court.  After  having  shot  a  great  many  times, 
the  others  shot  by  turns  :  Sulkowski,  Briihl,  the 
envoys  of  foreign  courts,  the  old  General  Bandissin, 
the  Count  Wackerbarth-Salmour,  the  Count  Los,  the 
Baron  Shonberg,  the  Count  Gersdorf  and  the  rest. 
Every  shot  was  marked.     The  Prince  seemed  to  wait 


Count  Briihl  179 

impatiently  for  tlie  distribution  of  Father  Guarini's 
prizes. 

It  happened  that  after  counting  all  the  marks,  old 
Bandissin  won  the  first  prize.  The  Prince  rose 
from  his  chair,  gazing  after  Guarini,  who  told  a 
lackey  to  bring  out  the  first  prize  from  the  shanty. 

Curiosity  was  at  its  height.  The  door  opened,  and 
two  lackeys  in  court  livery — yellow  tail  coats  with 
blue  facings — brought  out  a  large  basket  covered 
with  a  white  cloth. 

'  General,'  Guarini  said  seriously,  '  it  is  not  my  fault 
that  you  do  not  receive  a  prize  more  suitable  to  your 
age,  but  it  so  pleased  the  Fates,  and  nobody  can 
avoid  his  destiny.' 

They  opened  the  basket  and  took  from  it  an 
enormous  goose,  but  not  in  its  natural  attire.  A 
clever  artist  had  made  a  very  amusing  thing  of  it. 
On  its  wings  a  silk  dress,  such  as  was  then  worn  by 
fashionable  ladies,  had  been  put ;  on  its  feet  there 
were  slippers,  while  its  head  was  ornamented  with  a 
wig  and  feathers. 

The  apparition  of  the  frightened  bird  was  received 
with  a  burst  of  laughter,  as  it  began  to  scream  and 
wanted  to  fly  away  ;  but  its  wings  were  entangled  in 
the  dress,  its  feet  in  the  shoes  ;  so  it  opened  its  beak 
as  if  crying  for  help  and  rolled  among  the  spectators. 

The  Prince  laughed  till  the  tears  came ;  all 
laughed,  even  the  stern  Princess. 

'  The  second  prize  ! '  cried  Frederick. 

*Your  Majesty,'  said  Guarini,  'The  first  prize  is 
called  Angelo  0  Vamorosal.^ 

'  Who  takes  the  second  prize  ?  '  the  Prince  asked. 

The  second  prize  was  won  by  Sulkowski,  who  was 
disgusted  with  Guarini 's  joke. 


180 


Count  Briihl 


The  second  basket  was  brought  out — and  from  it 
jumped  a  monkey  dressed  as  a  clown ;  the  monkey 
was  not  less  frightened  than  the  goose,  but  notwith- 
standing the  clothing,  it  began  to  run  away  and 
having  reached  the  first  tree  climbed  up  it. 

The  Prince  seized  a  rifle  and  fired :  the  monkey 
screaming,  hanging  bleeding  on  the  branch,  fell  to 
the  ground. 

The  third  prize,  destined  for  Briihl,  was  an 
enormous  hare,  dressed  as  Crispino.  The  Prince 
killed  the  hare  also.  He  was  much  excited  and  happy  ; 
his  hands  trembled,  his  eyes  shone,  he  laughed. 

The  fourth  prize  was  a  rabbit  dressed  as  Scara- 
rnuzzia.     It  was  also  killed  by  the  Prince. 

The  last  prize  was  a  very  amusing  one,  and  it  was 
spared  :  it  was  an  enormous  turkey  clad  as  Dottore, 
with  a  tail  coat,  wig,  waistcoat  and  everything  that 
belonged  to  its  official  costume.  Its  comical  gravity 
saved  its  life. 

They  all  laughed  heartily. 

The  Prince  thanked  Guarini  and  made  him  a 
longer  speech  than  usual.  He  assured  the  Jesuit 
that  not  only  would  he  never  forget  that  excellent 
farce,  but  that  he  should  order  it  to  be  repeated. 

They  shot  till  dark  :  the  evening  was  quiet  and 
warm,  the  air  sweetly  scented  and  the  landscape 
charming ;  nobody  wished  to  return  to  town ;  the 
court  dispersed,  forming  small  groups. 

It  happened  that  the  Chamberlain  Watzdorf  stood 
by  the  side  of  the  beautifiil  Frances  Kolowrath.  Her 
mother  noticed  it  and  tried  to  separate  them,  but 
she  did  not  succeed.  Not  wishing  to  draw  more 
attention  to  them  than  was  proper,  she  was  obliged 
to  leave  them  alone. 


Count   Briihl  isi 

Watzdorf  did  not  neglect  to  take  advantage  of  his 
opportunity.  Usually  ironical,  that  evening  he  was 
sad  and  depressed.  As  there  was  nobody  near  them 
he  could  speak  to  the  girl. 

^  I  am  grateful  to  fate,'  said  he,  '  for  the  opportunity 
it  gives  me  of  seeing  you  to-day :  and  this  happens 
very  seldom.  The  opportunity  is  the  more  precious 
to  me,  as  I  see  you  for  the  last  time.' 

'  What  do  you  mean  ?  Why  for  the  last  time  ?  ' 
asked  the  girl  with  uneasiness. 

*  I  feel  that  over  me  hangs  the  vengeance  of  that 
minister-page.  They  dog  my  footsteps,  they  have 
bribed  my  servants,  for  many  of  my  papers  are 
missing.  They  must  have  taken  them  secretly,  and 
if  that  is  so,  I  am  lost.' 

'  Run  away  ! '  cried  the  girl  passionately.  *  I  be- 
seech you  by  our  love,  run  away.  Nobody  watches 
you  just  now,  take  the  best  horse,  and  in  a  couple  of 
hours  you  will  be  in  Bohemia.' 

*Yes,  and  to-morrow  the  Austrians  would  catch 
me.' 

'  Then  flee  to  Prussia,  to  Holland,  to  France,'  said 
the  girl  wildly. 

'  I  have  no  means,'  answered  Watzdorf,  ^  and  what 
is  worse  the  charm  of  life  is  lost  to  me.  There  is  no 
happiness  for  me.  Frances — do  not  forget  me — and 
avenge  me.  You  will  become  that  man's  wife,  be 
his  executioner — ' 

Watzdorf  looked  into  her  eyes ;  they  shone  with 
love. 

'  Should  you  not  see  me  to-morrow  at  the  court,  it 
will  mean  that  I  am  lost,'  he  continued.  '  I  have  a 
presentiment  of  which  I  cannot  get  rid.' 

*  But  what  reasons  have  you  to  suspect  this  ?  ' 


182  Count  Briihl 

*  An  hour  ago  I  found  everything  upside  down  in 
my  room ;  the  lackey  has  disappeared.  Farewell,' 
he  said  with  a  voice  full  of  emotion.  '  You  will  live, 
I  shall  die  between  four  gloomy  walls.  Frances,  I 
beseech  you,  drop  a  handkerchief  for  a  souvenir. 
I  shall  carry  it  on  my  heart ;  looking  at  it  my  grief 
will  be  less  painful.' 

The  girl  dropped  the  handkerchief :  Watzdorf 
stooped,  picked  it  up,  and  hid  it  in  his  bosom. 

'  Thank  you,'  said  he.  '  One  moment  more,  and 
I  shall  not  see  your  eyes  again.  Farewell,  Frances, 
addio,  my  sweetest ! ' 

The  girl's  mother  came  up  at  that  moment,  and, 
taking  advantage  of  the  general  confusion,  she  pulled 
her  daughter  away  almost  by  force.  Watzdorf 
withdrew.  At  a  distance  of  a  few  steps  from  him, 
Sulkowski  encountered  Briihl,  while  Guarini  enter- 
tained the  Prince.  • 

'One  word — '  said  Briihl,  'my  suppositions  were 
right.' 

'  What  suppositions  ? '  the  Count  asked  indifferently. 

'  I  ordered  Watzdorf 's  apartments  to  be  searched 
and  they  found  fifty  copies  of  the  medal  and  a  letter 
from  the  manufacturer,  who  tried  to  justify  himself 
because  he  could  not  execute  a  better  facsimile  of  the 
drawing  sent  him.  It  is  absolute  proof  that  he  is 
guilty.' 

Sulkowski  grew  pale. 

Briihl  slipped  a  paper  into  his  hand. 

'  Take  this  :  I  do  not  wish  to  do  anything  on  my 
own  responsibility ;  do  what  you  please,  but  if  you 
don't  put  Watzdorf  in  Konigstein,  who  knows  if 
one  of  us  will  not  take  his  place  there  ?  Impudence 
can  do  much — Count,  do   what  you  please,  but  I 


Count   Briihl  i83 

wash  my  hands  of  it. — I  would  not  condescend  to  a 
search  to  avenge  myself — but  the  Prince  is  attacked 
— It's  crimen  IcBsae  majestatis  and  for  that  death 
is  the  penalty.' 

Having  said  this  Briihl  stepped  aside  quickly ; 
his  face  assumed  its  usual  sweet  smile.  He  perceived 
the  Countess  Moszynski  and  he  turned  towards  her, 
bowing  in  a  most  ceremonious  and  respectful  way. 

Frances  Kolowrath  followed  her  mother ;  she  was 
silent  and  proud  ;  she  gazed  several  times  after 
Watzdorf  and  paid  not  the  slighest  attention  to 
what  was  going  on  around  her. 

While  she  was  so  deeply  thoughtful  Briihl  came 
to  her,  bowed  respectfully  and  smiled  sweetly.  The 
proud  girl's  eyes  shone ;  she  drew  herself  up  and 
looked  at  the  minister  contemptuously. 

'  Don't  you  think,'  Briihl  said,  '  that  we  succeeded 
in  amusing  the  Prince  ?  ' 

'  Yes,  and  you  proved  a  good  marksman,'  answered 
the  girl.  '  I  don't  doubt  that  you  could  shoot  just 
as  well  at  people — ' 

Briihl  looked  sharply  at  her. 

*I  am  not  very  skilful,'  he  said  coolly,  *but  if 
I  were  obliged  to  defend  His  Majesty,  I  don't 
doubt  I  should  shoot  well.  I  noticed  that  you 
enjoyed  your  conversation  with  the  Chamberlain 
Watzdorf.' 

*  Yes,'  said  the  girl,  '  Watzdorf  is  very  witty,  he 
shoots  with  words  as  you  do  with  balls.' 

'  That  is  a  very  dangerous  weapon.  If  one  does 
not  know  how  to  handle  it,'  said  Briihl,  '  one  might 
shoot  oneself.* 

The  girl's  mother  interrupted  this  unpleasant 
(joiiyersation,  Fr^nc^s'  look  closed  it.     She  wishecj 


184  Count   Briihl 

to  intercede  with  Briihl,  but  pride  closed  her  mouth  : 
besides  she  was  not  certain  that  Watzdorf  did  not 
exaggerate  his  peril. 

The  Princess  had  already  left  with  her  ladies  in 
waiting,  the  Prince  still  remained.  Sulkowski  tried 
to  come  near  him,  and  the  Prince  expressing  his 
desire  to  walk  some  little  distance,  the  favourite 
seized  the  opportunity  and  walked  at  his  side.  Briihl 
accompanied  the  Countess  Kolowrath. 

Sulkowski  did  not  wish  to  postpone  the  affair,  for 
he  was  afraid  that  Watzdorf  might  fly  if  it  were 
delayed. 

*  It's  a  very  unpleasant  duty,'  said  Sulkowski,  '  to 
be  obliged  to  spoil  your  majesty's  humour  after  such 
pleasant  amusement.' 

Having  listened  to  this,  Frederick  became  gloomy, 
and  looked  askance  at  his  minister,  who  continued  : 

'  The  matter  is  pressing ;  Briihl  and  I  and  even 
your  Majesty  are  exposed  to  the  ridicule  of  the 
whole  of  Europe :  I  did  not  speak  before,  wishing 
to  spare  your  Majesty's  feelings. — In  Holland  an 
abominable  medal  has  been  struck — ' 

Frederick  stopped  ;  his  face  grew  as  pale  as  his 
father's  used  to  do  when  extremely  angry,  and  he 
lost  control  of  himself. 

*  I  did  not  wish  to  mention  it,  until  we  had  found 
the  culprit,'  Sulkowski  wound  up.  'I  and  Briihl 
would  forgive  the  offence  to  ourselves,  but  we  cannot 
forgive  the  insult  to  your  Majesty.' 

'  But  who  ?     Who  ?  '  asked  Frederick. 

'  The  man  whose  whole  family  including  himself, 
owes  everything  to  your  Majesty's  father.  It  is 
unheard  of  gratitude  and  daring — ' 

*  Who  ?     Who  ?  '  exclaimed  Frederick, 


Count  Briihl  185 

'  The  Chamberlain  Watzdorf.' 

*  Have  yoTi  proofs  ?  ' 

*  I  have  a  letter  found  in  his  rooms  and  several 
medals.' 

*  I  don't  wish  to  see  them,'  the  Prince  said  extending 
his  arm,  *  nor  him  either  ;  away,  away — ' 

*  Shall  we  let  him  go  unpunished  ? '  Sulkowski  asked. 
*  It  cannot  be.  He  will  carry  his  calumnies  and  spread 
them  in  other  countries.' 

*  The  Chamberlain  Watzdorf  ?  Watzdorf  junior  ?  ' 
repeated  Frederick.  'But  what  do  you  propose?' 
Saying  this  he  wiped  the  perspiration  from  his 
forehead. 

*  Konigstein,'  said  Sulkowski  shortly. 

There  was  a  moment  of  silence.  The  Prince 
walked  slowly,  with  bowed  head.  It  was  the  first 
offence  that  he  was  obliged  to  punish. 

'  Where  is  Briihl  ?  '  he  asked. 

'  Briihl  left  it  to  me,'  answered  the  Count. 

*  Watzdorf  !  Konigstein  ! '  repeated  Frederick 
sighing.  Then  stopping  he  turned  to  Sulkowski 
and  said  : — *  I  don't  wish  to  hear  any  more  about 
it ;  do  what  you  please.' 

Sulkowski  turned  to  Guarini,  who  walked  behind 
them,  and  signed  to  him  to  approach,  for  he  was 
the  best  man  to  amuse  the  Prince.  The  Padre 
ran  as  quickly  as  he  could,  guessing  that  he  was 
needed. 

'I  am  in  despair!  '  cried  he,  'my  goose  Angelo  o 
Vamorosal  is  lost,  flew  away,  seeing  that  Bandissin 
did  not  care  for  it ;  I  am  sure  it  will  commit  suicide 
in  the  forest.  I  rushed  after  it  and  was  unfortunate 
to  take  three  ladies  for  my  goose ;  they  will  never 
forgive  m^  this,' 


186  Count   Briihl 

The  Prince's  gloomy  face  brightened  up  ;  his  white 
teeth  appeared  from  beneath  tightened  lips.  He 
looked  at  the  Jesuit  as  if  wishing  to  find  the  necessary 
cheeriness  in  the  bright  smiling  face,  remembering 
the  Italian  pulcinello. 

Guarini  having  guessed  that  something  must  have 
saddened  the  good  lord,  did  his  best  to  counteract  its 
bad  influence. 

And  in  proportion  as  the  Italian's  jokes  came  out, 
the  Prince  seemed  to  forget  all  else  and  smiled.  But 
the  merry  Father  was  obliged  to  renew  his  efforts  to 
disperse  the  returning  cloud,  and  he  did  not  stop  his 
joking  until  he  heard  the  loud,  hearty  laughter,  which 
announced  that  the  Prince  had  forgotten  about  the 
sorrows  of  this  world. 

The  next  day  the  Chamberlain  Watzdorf  disap- 
peared ;  he  was  the  first  victim  of  that  reign.  A  few 
days  later  they  began  to  whisper  that  Watzdorf  had 
been  escorted  to  Konigstein.  The  Prince  never 
mentioned  his  name  ;  Sulkowski  and  Briihl  did  not 
wish  to  know  anything  about  the  affair. 

Fear  fell  on  the  court  and  on  the  secret  enemies  of 
the  two  ministers. 

In  The  Jlistorical  Mercury,  a  newspaper  published 
in  Paris,  there  appeared  the  following  paragraph  : 

*  Those  who  were  familiar  with  the  playful  and 
satirical  mind  of  that  young  nobleman,  who  was 
mixed  up  in  certain  affairs  after  the  death  of  Augustus 
the  Strong,  and  who  showed  his  cutting  wit,  will  not 
be  astonished  at  the  sad  lot  which  befel  him.' 

Watzdorf  never  again  appeared  in  this  world.  He 
died  in  Konigstein  after  fourteen  years  of  seclusion, 
killed  by  longing  and  solitude, 


CHAPTER  XII 

A  YEAR  after  the  preceding  events,  the  palace  occupied 
by  Briihl  was  profusely  illuminated.  Nowhere  was 
greater  magnificence  displayed  during  festivities  than 
in  Dresden,  nowhere  more  enjoyment  than  in  the 
capital  of  Saxony,  where  the  tradition  of  luxury  had 
been  left  by  Augustus  the  Strong/  From  the  court 
the  luxury  spread  amongst  those  who  surrounded  the 
Prince,  and  on  those  who  came  in  contact  with  them, 
even  extending  to  rich  burghers.  The  banks  in 
those  times  gave  balls  for  the  court ;  everyone  who 
furnished  opportunity  for  enjoyment  and  could  do 
something  unusual  in  the  way  of  entertaining,  was 
welcomed. 

Fireworks,  illuminations,  flowers,  music,  pictures 
were  employed  whenever  there  was  opportunity  for 
displaying  them. 

Briihl  was  one  of  the  greatest  spendthrifts  among 
the  nouveaux  riches  ;  he  astounded  even  those  whom 
nothing  could  surprise.  The  illumination  of  his 
palace  surpassed  everything  of  the  kind  ever  seen  in 
Dresden.  A  great  crowd  gazed  from  a  respectful 
distance  at  the  house  of  such  a  grandee  ;  the  palace 
shone  with  multi-coloured  lanterns  and  wreaths  of 
flowers.  Over  the  porte-cochere,  on  a  shield,  from 
which  two  garlands  of  pink  and  white  flowers  hung 
down  were  the  letters  F  and  H  lovingly  blent.  A 
little  lower  were  placed  two  transparent  shields  with 
heraldic  hieroglyphics  unintelligible   to   the  crowd 

187 


188  Count  Brlihl 

The  courtiers  explained  that  these  were  the  coats  of 
arms  of  the  newly  married  couple. 

The  crowd  had  been  standing  for  a  long  time  when 
from  the  palace  came  a  carriage  preceded  by  runners 
and  postillions  on  horseback.  The  carriage  contained 
the  mother,  and  the  newly-married  couple,  coming  to 
their  home  after  the  reception  at  the  court.  The 
beautiful  young  wife  was  about  to  enter  the  house  for 
the  first  time. 

Although  no  other  guests  were  expected,  on  both 
sides  of  the  stairs  up  to  the  first  floor  stood  numerous 
lackeys  wearing  magnificent  scarlet  livery  ;  on  the 
first  floor  stood  butlers  and  the  minister's  pages. 

The  house  was  furnished  with  princely  magnifi- 
cence ;  china,  silver,  bronzes,  rugs  and  thousands  of 
hihelots  ornamented  it.  Briihl  explained  this  luxury 
by  saying  that  he  wished  to  do  honour  to  his  lord  ;  he 
declared  that  he  spent  his  last  penny  in  order  to 
contribute  to  the  magnificence  of  the  house  of  Saxony. 
When  the  carriage  stopped  in  front  of  the  house,  the 
Countess,  assisted  by  her  son-in-law,  alighted  first 
and  went  upstairs.  Briihl  offered  his  arm  to  his  wife 
but  she  pretended  not  to  see  his  movement  and 
walked  independently  beside  him.  Her  beautiful 
face  was  sad,  stern  and  proud.  There  was  not  the 
slightest  trace  of  joy  on  her  gloomy  features.  She 
looked  with  indifference  on  the  luxury  of  the  house, 
as  though  she  did  not  care  to  see  it ;  she  walked  like 
a  victim,  who  knows  that  she  cannot  change  her  fate 
and  does  not  expect  any  happiness.  She  evidently 
had  had  time  to  grow  cold,  to  think  the  matter  over, 
to  become  familiar  with  her  situation,  for  her  face 
was  chilly  as  a  piece  of  marble.  If  there  was  grief 
within  her,  it  had  become  chronic,  slowly  devouring. 


Count  Briihl  i89 

The  Countess  Kolowrath  stopped  in  the  drawing- 
room  and  turned  to  look  after  the  married  couple. 
Frances  came  to  her  and  was  silent.  On  her  other 
side  Briihl,  wearing  a  blue  and  gold  velvet  dress, 
stood  smiling  sweetly  at  his  mother-in-law. 

The  Countess  kissed  her  daughter  silently  on  the 
forehead,  and  although  the  life  of  the  court  had 
hardened  her,  tears  appeared  in  her  eyes,  while  the 
newly  married  lady  remained  indifferent. 

*  Be  happy,' the  mother  whispered.  *  I  bless  you. 
Be  happy ! '  and  she  pressed  her  hands  to  her  eyes 
to  hide  her  emotion.  Briihl  seized  the  other  hand 
and  kissed  it. 

'  You  need  not  be  left  alone,'  the  mother  continued 
in  a  broken  voice.  *  It  was  my  duty  to  accompany 
you  here  and  to  give  you  my  blessing ;  but  I  don't 
wish  to  intrude  upon  you ;  1  myself  need  rest  after 
such  emotion.' 

She  turned  to  Briihl. 

*  I  commend  you  to  your  wife,'  she  said,  '  be  kind 
to  her,  love  her.  Frances  will  become  accustomed  to 
you ;  be  happy !  The  happiness  of  this  world  is 
fragile  and  unstable — one  must  try  to  make  life  sweet 
and  not  embitter  it.  Frances,  I  hope  that  you  will  be 
good  to  him — ' 

She  covered  her  eyes,  as  though  some  thought  had 
prevented  her  from  finishing  what  she  had  had  in 
her  mind. 

Once  more  she  bent  over  her  daughter's  forehead 
and  kissed  it.  The  son-in-law  graciously  offered  his 
arm  and  conducted  her  downstairs  to  the  court- 
carriage  waiting  for  her,  which  she  entered  and  hid 
herself  from  the  gaze  of  the  crowd. 

The  young  bride  remained  alone  for  a  time  and 


190  Count  Bruhl 

when  Briihl  returned  and  wished  to  take  hold  of  her 
arm,  she  looked  at  him  surprised  as  if  she  had 
forgotten  where  she  was  and  that  she  had  become 
his  wife. 

*  For  God's  sake/  the  minister  whispered,  '  let  us 
look  happy  at  least  before  strangers.  On  the  stage 
of  life,  we  are  all  actors  ' — it  was  his  favourite  saying 
— *  let  us  play  our  part  well.' 

Having  said  this  he  offered  her  his  arm  and  con- 
ducted her  through  the  row  of  lighted  rooms,  to  her 
apartment.  Everything  she  looked  at  was  so  magni- 
ficent, that  to  anyone  but  her  it  would  have  been  a 
succession  of  surprises.  She  walked  not  looking 
and  not  seeing.  At  length  they  came  to  her  dressing- 
room,  situated  in  front  of  the  chamber,  in  which  two 
alabaster  lamps  were  thro\^dng  a  pale,  mysterious 
light. 

The  young  lady,  seeing  the  open  door  before  her, 
stopped  ;  looked  round  for  a  chair,  sat  on  one  standing 
near  the  dressing-table,  and  became  thoughtful. 

They  were  alone ;  only  the  murmuring  of  the 
crowd  admiring  the  illuminations  was  heard. 

*  Madam/  said  Briihl  sweetly,  *you  are  in  your 
own  house,  and  your  most  obedient  servant  stands 
before  you.' 

He  wished  to  kneel ;  Frances  rose  suddenly,  sighed, 
as  if  throwing  off  a  burden,  and  said  with  a  voice 
in  which  there  was  sadness  : 

*I  have  had  enough  of  this  comedy,  played  the 
whole  day,  and  it  is  not  necessary  for  us  to  continue 
it.  We  must  be  sincere  and  frank  ;  let  us  be  so  from 
the  first  day.  We  have  contracted,  not  matrimony, 
not  a  union  of  hearts,  but  a  bargain ;  let  us  try  to 
make  it  advantageous  to  us  both.' 


Count   Briihl  i9l 

Speaking  thus  and  not  looking  at  her  husband,  she 
began  to  take  off  her  wreath  and  veil.  There  was  no 
emotion  in  her  voice. 

'  If  you  do  not  wish  anyone  to  overhear  our  con- 
versation,' she  added,  '  be  so  kind  as  to  assure  your- 
seK  that  nobody  listens  at  the  door.' 

*  I  am  sure  of  that,  for  I  have  given  orders,'  said 
Briihl,  'and  usually  my  orders  are  executed.' 

Frances  took  some  perfume  from  a  bottle  standing 
on  the  dressing-table  and  put  it  on  her  temples. 

'  I  cannot  be  happy,'  she  continued  while  un- 
dressing, '  as  other  women  are ;  the  man  whom  I 
oved,  I  don't  conceal  that,  is  in  a  dark  prison  ;  you 
love  another  woman,  therefore  we  are  indifferent  to 
each  other :  although  nobody  told  me  what  kind  of 
sacrifice  I  am  destined  for,  I  understand  it  all  the 
same.  But  I  wish  to  enjoy  life  and  I  shall  enjoy  it — 
I  must  have  all  its  pleasures.  The  poison  must  be 
sweetened  ;  that  I  deserve.  I  like  luxury  and  I  shall 
have  it ;  I  must  have  distraction  in  order  not  to  cry  ; 
I  must  have  noise  in  order  not  to  hear  the  voice  of 
my  heart :  1  must  have  all  that. — You  are  a  stranger 
to  me,  I  am  a  stranger  to  you. — We  may  be  good 
friends,  if  you  try  to  deserve  my  friendship.  Who 
knows,  I  may  take  a  fancy  and  be  good  to  you  for 
a  few  days,  but  I  will  not  be  anybody's  slave — even — ' 

She  turned  to  Briihl  who  stood  silent  and 
embarrassed. 

*  Do  you  understand  me  ?  ' 
The  minister  remained  silent. 
'  Nobody  said  a  word  about  it  to  me/  she  con- 
tinued.    '  I  guessed  it  with  the  instinct  of  a  woman  ; 
I  know  to  what  I  am  destined. — ' 

'  Madam,'   Briihl    interrupted,    '  there  are   things 


192  Count  Briihl 

about  which  one  must  not  speak  ;  to  betray  them 
means — ' 

'  You  don't  need  to  tell  me  that,  I  know  everything. 
I  can  reveal  to  you,  what  you  think  is  a  secret. 
Augustus  II  wished  to  be  famous  by  his  amours,  his 
pious  son  would  not  wish  to  be  suspected  of  it. 
Therefore  everything  must  be  an*anged  in  such  a 
way  that  nobody  can  see  or  hear.* 

She  laughed  ironically. 

*  I  expect,  if  I  give  you  power,  favour,  that  I  must 
have  something  in  return,  and  I  demand  that  my 
fancies  shall  be  respected ;  and  it  is  quite  sure 
I  shall  have  fancies.  I  am  anxious  to  know  life,  I 
am  thirsty  for  it ;  I  must  become  intoxicated  in  order 
to  forget  my  pain.  Do  you  think,'  said  she  with 
animation,  *  that  I  shall  ever  forget  about  that  Uxi- 
fortunate  man  ?  I  see  the  walls,  between  which  he 
is  shut,  the  dark  room,  hard  bed,  the  face  of  his 
jailer,  and  himself  looking  through  a  small  window. 
But  in  that  man  dwells  a  strong  spirit,  which  may 
keep  him  alive  till  the  door  of  the  prison  is  opened. 
Is  it  true  that  your  other  victim,  the  poor  Hoym,  has 
hanged  himself  in  the  prison  ? ' 

Briihl  looked  at  the  floor. 

*  Yes,'  he  said  drily,  *  it  is  no  great  loss ;  I  shall 
not  cry  for  him.' 

*  Nor  I  either,'  rejoined  Frances,  'but  I  shall  never 
forget  the  other  man.  You  understand  that  the 
hand  that  has  done  this,  although  I  was  bound  to  it 
in  church, — cannot  touch  mine.  We  are  and  shall 
remain  strangers.' 

She  smiled  ironically  and  continued  : 
*You  became  a   Catholic,  although  this  is  also  a 
secret.     It  commends  you   to   me  !     What  tact  and 


Count   Briihl  193 

policy !  The  king  of  Poland  must  have  a  Catholic 
for  his  minister  in  Poland — Briihl  there  is  Catholic ; 
the  Kurfiirst  of  Saxony  must  have  a  Protestant 
minister  in  Saxony :  Briihl  here  will  be  a  zealous 
Lutheran.  If  Zinzendorf  became  King  of  the 
Moravian  Brothers  I  am  sure  you  virould  belong 
to  the  Herrnhut  community — C'est  parfait!  C'est 
delieieux ! ' 

'Madam,'  said  Briihl  with  emotion  in  his  voice, 
*  unknowingly  you  wound  me  very  severely.  I  am 
a  Christian  and  a  pious  one ;  denomination  to  me 
is  a  secondary  thing,  by  the  Gospel,  our  Saviour's 
love — ' 

He  raised  his  eyes. 

*  It  is  a  part  of  your  role ;  I  understand,'  said 
Frances.  '  Then  let  us  leave  it,  I  should  like  to 
rest  and  be  alone.' 

She  looked  into  his  eyes. 

'  But  what  would  the  servants  say  ?  What  would 
the  people  say  if  you  dismiss  me  like  that?  It 
cannot  be ! ' 

'  It  cannot  be  otherwise ! '  Frances  exclaimed. 
'You  can  spend  the  night  here  on  the  sofa  or  in 
an  armchair,  I  will  lock  myself  in  the  bedroom.' 

Briihl  looked  at  her  uneasily. 

*  Then  permit  me  to  go  and  change  my  clothes 
and  to  return  here.  Nobody  will  know  what  our 
mutual  relations  are,  but  nobod)'^  must  guess  it.' 

*  I  understand  that !  It  must  be  a  secret  and  we 
must  appear  the  most  loving  couple.  Our  platonic 
marriage  will  be  very  amusing.  The  men  will 
envy  you,  the  women  will  envy  me ;  you  are  not 
bad-looking  for  the  women ;  the  king  is  better 
looking  than  you,  but  then  he  is  a  king !     I  prefer 


1&4  Count  Briihl 

to  be  the  mistress  of  the  King  secretly,  than  the 
wife  of  his  minister  openly.* 

She  began  to  laugh  sarcastically. 

'  I  can  imagine  how  his  Majesty  will  be  afraid 
to  look  at  me  in  the  presence  of  his  consort — ' 

*  Madam,'  said  Briihl  wringing  his  hands,  'the 
walls  have  ears.' 

Frances  shrugged  her  shoulders. 

*  You  know,'  whispered  Briihl,  '  that  should 
there  be  even  the  slightest  suspicion,  we  are  both 
lost.' 

'Especially  I,'  the  woman  rejoined,  'as  I  should 
have  to  remain  with  you  en  tete  a  tete,  without  any 
hope  of  consolation,  and  that  would  poison  my  life. — 
Consequently  I  shall  be  silent.' 

Briihl  slipped  out  of  the  room.  The  rooms 
through  which  he  passed  were  still  illuminated ; 
he  walked  slowly  and  at  the  other  end  of  the  house 
entered  his  dressing-room.  Two  lackeys  waited  for 
him  knowing  that  he  would  come  to  undress. 

A  morning  attire  lay  on  the  table ;  it  consisted 
of  a  gorgeous  rohe  de  cJiamhre  made  of  blue  Lyons 
satin  with  bright  flowers,  snow  white  linen,  and 
light  silk  slippers. 

As  orders  were  given  to  extinguish  the  lights,  the 
lackey  took  a  silver  candelabra  and  lighted  Briihl 
to  his  chamber.  At  the  door  the  minister  dismissed 
him  with  a  nod  and  entered. 

There  was  no  one  in  the  dressing-room,  the  door 
leading  to  the  bed-chamber  was  locked. 

Briihl  looked  through  the  window,  the  street  was 
already  empty.  The  illuminations  were  out ;  a 
night  lamp  burned  at  a  corner ;  a  clock  in  the 
town   struck   midnight.      Over    the    black    houses. 


Count  Briihl  195 

standing  in  half  shadow,  the  moon  stood  surrounded 
by  fleecy  clouds. 

The  night  was  warm,  quiet. 

In  the  chamber  there  was  not  the  slightest 
movement. 

The  husband  of  the  beautiful  Frances  walked 
several  times  to  and  fro  looking  for  a  place  to  rest. 
He  was  obliged  to  content  himself  with  a  small 
sofa  and  a  chair  instead  of  a  bed.  He  lay  down, 
smiled  sardonically,  thinking  about  the  future,  then 
began  to  doze. 

He  dreamed  of  gold,  diamonds,  lace,  of  princely 
luxury,  but  not  of  a  human  face  and  heart ;  then 
about  white  clouds  with  his  own  monogram,  over 
which  there  shone  the  coronet  of  a  Count. 

When  he  opened  his  eyes,  it  was  already  daylight. 
He  ran  down  from  his  improvised  and  uncomfortable 
bed,  and  went  quickly  to  his  apartment. 

First  he  looked  at  a  clock  and  was  surprised  to 
find  that  it  was  already  six  o'clock,  at  which  hour 
he  usually  began  his  work.  When  he  entered  his 
study  he  saw  Father  Guarini  standing  in  the  centre 
and  smiling  sweetly. 

The  Jesuit  put  out  his  hand  to  him ;  Briihl, 
confused  and  blushing  slightly,  kissed  it.  Before 
they  spoke  their  eyes  met.  Then  Guarini  said 
mysteriously  : 

*  Ministers  cannot  sleep  long  even  the  first  night 
after  their  wedding,  especially  when  they  havt^  an 
powerful  enemies  as  you  have.' 

'  With  you.  Father,  and  with  the  Princess's 
protection,  I  need  not  be  afraid,'  said  Bruhl 

'It  is  always  necessary  to  be  cautious,'  whispered 
Guarini,  '  kings  do  not  rule  for  ever,  my  dear  Briihl. 


196  Count  Briihl 

*  But  you,  Fathers/  said  Briihl  also  in  a  whisper, 
*rule,  and  shall  rule  over  the  King,  and  his 
conscience.* 

My  dear  friend,  I  am  not  immortal,  I  am  already 
old,  and  I  feel  that  it  will  soon  be  all  over  with  me.* 

They  were  silent  for  some  time.  Guarini  walked 
to  and  fro,  with  his  hands  behind  his  back. 

*The  Princess  and  I  have  prepared  the  Prince 
von  Lichtenstein,'  said  he,  *  but  it  goes  very  slowly. 
We  shall  not  hasten  with  that  campaign,  we  must 
wait  until  I  and  circumstances  have  prepared  our 
lord.  At  present  Sulkowski  is  first  with  him. 
vSulkowski  is  everything.  On  your  side  you  have  the 
memory  of  his  father;  try  to  have  something  more — ' 

He  became  silent. 

^ Piano,  piano,  pianissimo!'  whispered  the  Jesuit. 
*  One  must  know  how  to  talk  to  our  lord.  Al  canto 
si  eonosce  Vueello,  ed  al  parlat  il  cervello.' 

Next  he  began  to  whisper  in  Briihrs  ear,  then 
having  glanced  at  the  clock  he  took  his  hat  and 
rushed  out. 

There  was  a  rap  at  the  other  door. 

The  yellow,  contorted  face  of  Henniche  appeared 
through  the  half-opened  door,  and  then  the  whole 
man  appeared.  Under  his  arm  he  had  a  pile  of 
papers. 

First  he  glanced  at  Briihl's  face  consulting  it  as  if 
it  were  a  barometer  to  tell  his  humour. 

*  Your  Excellency,'  he  said,  '  in  the  first  place, 
my  congratulations.' 

'Business  before  all,'  the  minister  interrupted, 
'  we  need  money,  money,  and  always  money  for  the 
court,  for  our  affairs  in  Poland,  for  the  King,  for  me 
for  you,  not  to  mention  Sulkowski,' 


Count  Briihl  197 

*  They  whisper,'  said  Henniche.  '  The  noblemen  are 
angry,  the  townsmen  grumble  and  appeal  to  their 
privileges,  to  imviunitates.' 

'  Who  ?  '  asked  Briihl. 

*  Almost  all  of  them.' 

*  But  who  is  at  their  head  ?     Who  speaks  most  ? ' 

*  Many  of  them.' 

*  Send  the  Swiss  guard,  seize  a  few  of  them  and 
send  them  to  Pleissenburg.  There  they  will  keep  quiet.' 

*  But  whom  shall  I  choose  ?  ' 

'  I  should  doubt  your  acuteness  if  you  do  not  under- 
stand. Do  not  reach  so  high  as  to  touch  some  partisan 
of  Sulkowski's.  Do  not  reach  too  low,  for  it  would 
be  useless.  Do  not  take  a  man  who  has  relations  at 
the  court — ' 

*  But  the  reason  ?  '  asked  the  ex-lackey. 
Briihl  laughed. 

*  Must  I  give  you  a  reason  ?  A  word  spoken  too 
loud,  crivien  laesae  viajestatis.  You  should  under- 
stand if  you  are  not  a  blockhead,' 

*  I  understand,'  said  Henniche  sighing. 
Briihl  began  to  walk  to  and  fro. 

'You  must  tell  Globig  to  carry  out  my  orders. 
During  the  last  hunting-party  a  petition  was  nearly 
handed  to  the  Prince.  A  nobleman  hid  behind  a 
bush.  A  few  hours  before  a  hunting-party,  or  a 
ride,  or  a  walk,  the  roads  should  be  inspected  and 
guards  posted.  Nobody  should  be  allowed  to  approach 
the  Prince — ' 

*I  cannot  do  everything  by  myself.  There  are 
Loss,  Hammer,  Globig  and  others.' 

*  You  must  supervise  them.' 

The  conversation  changed  into  a  confidential 
whispering,  but  it  did  not  last  long.     BriiH  yawned, 


198  Count    Brlihl 

Henniche  understood  and  went  out.  Chocolate  was 
brought.  Briihl  swallowed  it  quickl}^,  drank  some 
water,  and  rang  the  bell  for  a  lackey  to  help  him  to  dress. 
In  the  dressing-room  everything  was  ready,  and 
the  changing  of  clothes  did  not  take  long.  The 
porte-chaise  with  porters  stood  at  the  door.  It  was 
nine  o'clock  when  the  minister  ordered  them  to  carry 
him  to  the  house  occupied  by  the  Austrian  envoy, 
the  Prince  Venceslas  von  Lichtenstein.  The  house 
stood  in  the  Old  Market  Square  and  the  journey  was 
not  a  long  one.  This  hour  Briihl  usually  spent 
with  the  King,  but  to-day  he  took  advantage  of  his 
wedding  and  went  to  see  the  Prince  von  Lichtenstein. 
Briihl  did  not  forget  that  that  morning  it  was 
essential  he  should  appear  to  everybody  the  happiest 
man  in  the  world  ;  therefore  although  he  was  tired, 
his  face  beamed  with  joy. 

The  Prince  von  Lichtenstein,  a  lord,  and,  in  the 
full  meaning  of  the  word,  a  courtier  of  one  of  the 
oldest  ruling  housed. in  Europe,  was  a  man  well  fitted 
for  his  position.  He  was  tall,  good-looking ;  his 
features  were  regular,  his  mien  was  lordl}^ ;  he  was 
affable  and  polite  ;  in  his  eyes  one  could  see  intelli- 
gence and  diplomatic  cunning.  Although  Briihl  was 
only  3  petty  nobleman,  but  now,  as  prime  minister 
of  a  Prince  related  to  the  reigning  house  of  Austria, 
and  as  husband  of  the  Countess  Kolowrath,  almost 
equal  to  Lichtenstein,  he  was  clever  enough  not 
to  show  it  and  he  greeted  the  envoy  with  respect. 

They  entered  the  study.     The  Prince  asked  Briihl 
to  be  seated,  and  he  himself  took  a  chair  opposite  him. 
*I   return,'    Briihl   said    'to   our    conversation   of 
yesterday.' 

'  My  dear  Briihl,  I  assure  you  that  you  may  expect 


Count   Briihl  199 

every  assistance  from  my  court ;  title,  wealth,  protec- 
tion, but  we  must  go  hand  in  hand — you  understand.' 

Briihl  put  out  his  hand  immediately. 

*Yes,'  he  said,  'we  must  go  hand  in  hand.  But 
nobody  must  see  our  hands — the  greatest  secrecy 
must  be  observed,  otherwise  everything  would  come 
to  nought.  I  should  be  overthrown  and  with  me 
the  man  who  serves  you  faithfully.' 

' Do  you  doubt?  '  asked  the  Prince?  ' My  word  is 
as  good  as  that  of  the  Emperor.' 

'  I  am  satisfied  with  your  word,'  said  Briihl. 

'  Is  it  the  case,  that  Sulkowski  has  some  plans  ? ' 
the  Prince  asked. 

'  There  is  no  doubt  about  that.' 

'  But  nothing  definite.' 

*  On  the  contrary,  the  plan  is  written.' 

'  Have  you  seen  it  ?  ' 

Briihl  smiled  and  did  not  answer. 

'  Could  you  get  it  ?  '  asked  the  Prince. 

Briihl's  smile  became  still  more  significant.  The 
Prince  ben.t  towards  him  and  seized  both  his 
hands. 

'  If  you  give  me  that  plan  in  writing — ' 

He  hesitated  for  a  moment. 

'  It  would  mean  much  the  same  as  giving  you  my 
head,'  said  Briihl. 

'  But  I  hope  you  could  trust  me  with  your  head,' 
the  Prince  rejoined. 

'  Certainly,'  said  Briihl,  '  but  once  the  plan  is  in 
your  hands  there  could  be  no  further  alteration,  one 
of  us  must  fall,  and  you  know  how  attached  the 
Prince  is  to  him.' 

Lichtenstein  rose  from  his  seat. 

'But  we  have   on  our   side  the   Princess,  Father 


200  Count  Briihl 

Guarini,  you^  Father  Volger  and  Faustina,'  lie  said 
eagerly. 

Briihl  smiled.  '  Sulkowski  has  on  his  side  the 
Prince's  favour  and  heart.' 

'  Yes,  it  is  true,  that  weak  people  are  stubborn, 
said  the  Prince,  '  but  acting  on  them  slowly  and 
intelligently  one  can  always  influence  them.  Never 
too  suddenly,  for  their  feebleness,  which  they  feel, 
makes  them  stubborn  ;  one  must  act  on  them  in  such 
a  way  as  to  make  them  believe  that  they  act  by 
themselves.' 

*  Sulkowski  was  the  Prince's  playmate  in  boyhood, 
he  trusts  him  in  matters  in  which  he  would  trust 
nobody  else.' 

*I  do  not  deny  that  the  work  is  difficult,  but  I  do 
not  think  it  impossible,'  answered  Lichtenstein.  '  But 
that  plan  ?     Have  you  seen  it  ?     Have  you  read  it  ?  ' 

Briihl  checked  the  Prince's  impatience  by  a  cool 
business  question. 

*  Prince,  permit  me  to  speak  first  about  the 
conditions.' 

'With  the  greatest  pleasure.' 

*  I  am  very  sorry,  for  I  respect  Sulkowski  for  other 
reasons,'  said  Briihl;  *he  is  attached  to  the  Prince, 
he  is  faithful  to  him  ;  he  thinks  he  could  make 
Saxony  powerful ;  but  if  his  influence  increases,  his 
ambition  may  lead  him  on  wrong  roads.  Sulkowski 
does  not  appreciate  our  saintly  Princess  ;  Sulkowski 
does  not  respect  the  clergy.' 

'My  dear  Briihl,'  interrupted  the  Prince,  *  I  know 
him  as  well  as  you  do,  if  not  better  ;  he  does  not  stand 
on  ceremony  when  he  is  with  me  ;  I  knew  him  in 
Vienna,  where  he  was  with  the  Prince.' 

'  We    must     overthrow    Sulkoiwsk.'    said    Briihl 


Count  Briihl  201 

empliatically.  *I  ask  for  nothing  more,  but  this 
must  be  done  for  the  King's  and  the  country's  good. 
Then  I  shall  remain  alone,  and  in  me  you  will  have 
the  most  faithful  servant.' 

'  But  that  plan  ?  That  plan  ?  '  repeated  Lichten- 
stein.     '  Give  it  to  me  and  I  consent  to  everything.' 

Briihl  put  his  hand  carelessly  into  his  side  pocket ; 
seeing  this,  Lichenstein  drew  nearer. 

Briihl  took  out  a  paper  and  held  it  before  the 
Prince's  eyes.  But  at  the  moment  when  the  paper 
was  about  to  pass  into  Lichtenstein's  hands,  there 
was  a  rap  at  the  door,  and  a  lackey,  appearing  on 
the  threshold,  announced : 

*  The  Count  Sulkowski.' 

In  the  twinkling  of  an  eye  the  paper  disappeared 
into  a  pocket  and  Briihl,  sitting  comfortably  back 
in  his  chair,  was  taking  snuff  from  a  gold  snuff  box. 

Sulkowski,  standing  in  the  doorway,  looked  at  Briihl 
and  Lichtenstein,  but  more  especially  at  his  competitor 
who  put  out  his  hand  to  him  and  smiled  sweetly. 

*  What  an  early  bird  you  are  !  '  said  Sulkowski. 
*  The  very  next  day  after  your  wedding  you  visit 
ambassadors  in  the  morning.  I  thought  you  were 
still  at  your  lady's  feet.' 

'Duties  before  all,'  Briihl  answered.  'I  was  told 
that  the  Prince  was  going  to  Vienna,  and  I  came  to 
take  leave  of  him.' 

*  Prince,  are  you  going  to  Vienna  ?  '  asked  Sulkow- 
ski surprised.     '  I  did  not  know  anything  about  it.' 

Lichtenstein  seemed  a  little  embarrassed. 

*I  do  not  know  yet — perchance — '  he  stammered 
after  a  pause.  '  I  said  something  about  it  yesterday 
at  the  court,  and  I  see  that  Briihl,  who  knows  about 
everything,  has  learned  it.' 


CHAPTER  XIII    • 

The  two  antagonists  were  still  to  all  appearances  the 
best  of  friends,  although,  on  both  sides  there  had 
begun  a  secret  conflict.  That  same  morning  Sulkowski 
spoke  to  Ludovici  about  Briilil's  marriage. 

Ludovici  was  more  suspicious  than  the  Count. 

*  Count,'  said  he,  'that  marriage  ought  to  make  us 
careful.  Briihl  has  married  not  the  Countess 
Kolowrath  alone,  but  with  her  he  has  married  the 
Austrian  Court,  Father  Quarini  and  the  Princess. 
Briihl  is  sweet  as  honey,  but  he  overthrew  Fleury, 
Manteufl,  Wackerbarth  and  Hoym ;  he  put  Watzdorf 
into  Konigstein ;  I  do  not  trust  Briihl.' 

Sulkowski  began  to  laugh. 

'My  dear  Ludovici,'  he  said  proudly,  'remember 
who  they  were,  and  who  I  am !  He  will  not  be 
able  to  overthrow  me  were  he  helped  by  Guarini 
and  all  the  Austrians.  I  shall  drive  off  Guarini 
and  all  the  Jesuits.  1  shall  give  other  courtiers  to 
the  Princess.  With  regard  to  Hoym  and  Watzdorf, 
you  are  mistaken,  I  sent  them  away,  not  he.' 

'That  is  to  say  he  did  it  by  means  of  your 
Excellency's  hands  ;  is  facit,  cui  prodest ;  I  remember 
that  when  I  studied  law.  Watzdorf  was  in  love  with 
his  present  wife.' 

'You  must  not  try  to  teach  me  anything  about 
court  affairs,'  said  Sulkowski,  '  I  know  what  I  am 
about,  and  none  of  you  know  how  strong  my  influence 
is  with  the  Prince.' 

'  I  do  not  doubt  that,'  Ludovici  said  bowing. 

Sulkowski  however  remembered  that  conversation. 


Count   Briihl  203 

Althougli  lie  did  not  betray  his  thouglits  even  to  his 
confidant,  Ludovici,  the  Count  had  distrusted  Briihl 
for  some  time.  It  was  a  suspicious  circumstance 
to  him  that  Briihl  was  continually  with  Frederick^ 
remaining  for  hours  with  him  together  with  the 
two  fools  and  Guarini,  and  accompanied  him  every- 
where, so  that  the  Prince  grew  accustomed  to  his 
face.  Several  times  already  he  had  asked  after  Briihl 
when  he  had  been  absent  longer  than  usual.  Little 
by  little  his  presence  became  indispensable. 

Sulkowski  did  not  even  dream  that  this  could 
menace  him,  but  he  did  not  wish  for  any  rivals ; 
he  was  jealous,  and  alone  must  be  the  object  of 
the  Prince's  favour. 

*  Briihl  must  be  got  rid  of,'  he  said  to  himself.  *  I 
shall  easily  find  an  excuse.    I  must  prepare  the  Prince. ' 

The  same  day  after  dinner,  when  the  Prince  retired 
as  usual  to  his  apartment,  put  on  his  rohe  de  chambre, 
sat  in  a  chair  and  began  to  smoke  a  pipe,  Sulkowski 
entered  followed  by  a  man  carrying  a  case ;  he  took 
it  from  the  servant  in  the  ante-room  and  brought  it 
t  o  the  Prince's  room. 

The  Prince  during  his  travels  in  Italy  had  taken  a 
fancy  to  certain  masterpieces  of  Italian  art.  Wishing 
to  imitate  his  father,  and  having  inherited  his  love 
of  music,  hunting,  luxury,  theatres,  and  even  for 
Leipzig  fairs,  he  also  inherited  his  love  of  art.  He 
was  passionately  fond  of  pictures,  he  would  purchase 
as  many  as  he  could  get  hold  of  to  increase  the 
collection  started  hy  Augustus  II. 

The  best  way  to  please  him  was  either  to  tell  him 
of  some  good  picture,  or  present  him  with  one. 
Usually  cold  and  phlegmatic  Augustus'  successor 
would   become   quite   another   man  at   the   sight   of 


204  Count  Briihl 

a  good  picture ;  his  eyes  would  shine  as  they  did 
on  hearing  Faustina's  voice.  It  seemed  almost  that 
thought  circulated  more  quickly  through  his  brain, 
and,  usually  silent,  he  would  talk  and  exclaim. 

Even  in  his  saddest  mood,  at  the  mention  of  a 
picture  or  an  opera,  his  face  would  brighten  up. 
Sulkowski,  no  less  than  others,  was  aware  of  this 
weak  point  in  his  lord. 

Augustus  III  began  to  blow  out  the  first  whiffs  of 
smoke  when  Sulkowski  appeared  on  the  threshold 
with  the  case.  He  looked  round  him,  drew  himself 
up,  put  out  his  hand,  without  a  word.  Evidently  he 
guessed  the  contents  of  the  case,  personally  brought 
by  his  favourite. 

The  King's  eyes  brightened. — As  he  disliked  talking 
he  urged  Sulkowski  by  gestures  only  to  be  quick  and 
disclose  what  he  had  brought. 

'  Your  Majesty,'  the  Count  said  in  a  whisper,  '  this 
is  certainly  a  masterpiece,  but — ' 

'  But  what  ?  '  muttered  the  King  frowning. 

*  But,'  the  minister  said, '  the  subject  is  a  little  too  my- 
thological and  if  by  accident  her  Majestyshould  come — ' 

The  King  became  gloomy  and  less  insistent ;  his 
face  was  stern  and  he  moved  his  head  significantly. 

Sulkowski  put  the  case  in  a  corner ;  Frederick's 
eyes  followed  it.      '  And  who  painted  it  ?  '  he  asked. 

*  The  divine  Titian  Vecello,'  said  Sulkowski.  '  It 
is  not  very  large,  but  a  true  masterpiece.' 

On  hearing  the  name  the  King  bowed  as  though 
greeting  Titian  himself,  and  whispered  : 

*  Gran  maestro ! ' 

Sulkowski  turned  the  conversation.  The  King 
looked  at  him  as  though  he  did  not  understand, 
became  thoughtful  and  said  to  himself : 


Count  Briihl  205 

'  Tropjpo  mitologieo !     H'm  !  ' 

After  a  while  when  the  minister  spoke  of  hunting 
he  said,     '  What  does  it  represent  ?  ' 

The  Count  made  a  gesture  with  his  hand. 

'  A  very  improper  scene,'  he  said. 

'  Fie  '  Hide  it !  If  the  Queen  should  come  in,  or 
Father  Guarini — fie  !  ' 

Notwithstanding  his  apparent  disapproval,  his 
gaze  turned  constantly  to  the  case. 

'  I  think  it  would  be  best  to  take  it  away,'  said 
Sulkowski,  going  towards  the  case. 

The  King  frowned. 

'  But  just  tell  me  what  it  represents.' 

'Mars  and  Venus  at  the  moment  when  Vulcan 
catches  them  in  flagrante  and  puts  a  net  round  them.' 

The  King  shut  his  eyes  and  waved  his  hand. 

*  Fie !     Fie  ! '  he  exclaimed. 
Sulkowski  put  the  case  under  his  arm. 

*  But  to  see  it  for  the  sake  of  art,'  said  the  King, 
'  is  only  an  ordinary  sin.  I  shall  confess  it  to  Father 
Guarini — three  paters  and  all  is  over — ' 

He  stretched  out  his  arm,  Sulkowski  smiled, 
opened  the  case,  lifted  the  cover,  and  moved  the 
picture  towards  the  King.  The  pipe  fell  from  his 
hands. 

It  was  indeed  a  small  masterpiece.  The  woman 
it  represented  was  the  same  belle  who  sat  for  Titian's 
Venus  and  Diana  ;  a  marvellously  beautiful  woman, 
but  in  very  fact  in  a  very  mythological  position. 

The  King  looked  at  it  furtively,  evidently  ashamed 
of  his  curiosity ;  he  blushed,  but*  continued  to  gaze 
at  the  picture.  He  repeated,  '  un  gran  maestro ! ' 
His  eyes  shone.  He  paid  no  attention  to  Sulkowski 
and  began  to  whisper  : 


206  Count   Briihl 

'  Venus  is  very  beautiful.  Classical  forms  !  What 
a  cliarming,  what  a  lovely  favola  ! ' 

Suddenly  overcome  with  shame,  he  looked  round, 
pushed  aside  the  picture,  spat,  made  the  sign  of  the 
cross,  and  said  severely  : 

'  Away  with  it !  I  do  not  wish  to  lose  my  soul. 
Why  do  you  show  me  such  things  ? ' 

*  But  what  about  the  painting,  your  Majesty  ?  ' 

*  It  is  a  masterpiece,  but  aw^ay  with  it !  ' 
Sulkowski  shut  the  case  and  was  about  to  carry  it 

away,  when  the  King  stopped  him. 

'  Wait — it  is  better  that  no  one  else  should  be 
scandalised  by  it ;  put  it  there  in  the  corner ;  then 
we  shall  see — we  shall  burn  it.' 

*  Burn  such  a  masterpiece  ?  ' 

The  King  became  thoughtful  and  continued  to 
smoke  the  pipe.  The  minister  put  the  case  behind 
the  sofa  and  returned  to  the  King.  Still  under  the 
influence  of  the  picture  Augustus  III  continually 
murmured  :  '  Diavolo  inearnato ! '  and  he  shrugged 
his  shoulders,  'but  the  picture  is  admirable.  If 
Mars  were  not  there,  and  if  one  could  change  Venus 
into  repenting  Magdalene,  I  would  hang  it  in  my  room.' 

*  Your  Majesty,  there  is  no  indecency  in  works  of 
art,  one  admires  only  the  picture  of  a  master.' 

The  King  was  silent. 

*  I  must  confess  to  Father  Guarlni,'  he  said 
presently. 

'  I  am  sure  that  the  Padre  himself,'  said  Sulkowski, 
'would  look  at  this  masterpiece,  and  not  think  of 
confession.' 

'  Siete  un  hirhante  ! '  muttered  the  King.  '  Tace  ! 
hasto, !  ' 

Thus  the  conversation  about  Titian's  Venus  ended, 


Count   Briihl  207 

and  as  Briihl  was  not  there  the  King  asked  after  him. 
Sulkowski  sighed.     Augustus  III  glanced  at  him. 

'  I  see,'  said  Sulkowski,  '  that  Briihl  supersedes 
me  in  your  Majesty's  favour,  and  the  sight  hurts  an 
old  and  faithful  servant  like  myself.  For  that  alone 
I  could  dislike  him.' 

The  King  cleared  his  throat  significantly. 

'He  is  a  useful  man,  but  has  many  drawbacks,' 
continued  Sulkowski.  '  I  am  afraid  of  him.  He  is 
mixed  up  with  everything,  he  takes  hold  of  every- 
thing— he  squanders  the  money — is  fond  of  luxury — ' 

'Oh!  Oh!  Oh!'  muttered  the  King,  shaking 
his  head. 

*It  is  true,  your  Majesty.' 

Sulkowski  became  silent  and  looked  sad.  The 
King  pitied  him. 

'  Sulkowski,'  he  said,  '  don't  be  afraid,  there  is 
plenty  of  room  for  both  of  you,  and  you  will  always 
stand  first  with  me.' 

After  these  words,  which  were  quite  an  effort  for 
the  silent  Augustus  III,  Sulkowski  kissed  his  hand. 
The  King  embraced  him. 

'You  are  my  true  friend,  but  I  need  Briihl.' 

This  time  Sulkowski  did  not  press  the  matter 
further,  but  made  up  his  mind  to  pursue  the  same 
subject  on  some  future  occasion,  and  allow  it  to  act 
slowly  on  the  King ;  he  noticed  however,  that 
Augustus  III  was  growing  accustomed  to  Briihl,  and 
of  this  he  was  afraid. 

The  King  smoked  his  pipe  contentedly,  sitting  up 
straight  in  his  chair,  blinking  his  eyes  and  thinking, 
as  he  was  wont  to  do  when  at  peace  with  all  the 
world.  There  was  a  soft  rap  at  the  door.  It 
amiounced  that  some  privileged  person,  one  who  was 


208  Count  Briihl 

permitted  to  enter  tlie  King's  room  without  being 
previously  announced,  was  coming.  It  was  Father 
Guarini.  He  entered  quietly  and  smiling  ;  the  King 
greeted  him  with  a  friendly  nod,  and  continued  to 
smoke  his  pipe  and  blink  his  eyes.  Sulkowski, 
silent,  stood  near  him. 

The  Jesuit's  eyes,  searching  round  the  room,  were 
quick  to  notice  the  case  behind  the  sofa.  He  went 
towards  it  as  though  wishing  to  inspect  something 
with  which  he  was  not  familiar.  The  King  seeing 
his  movement,  blushed  and  looked  reproachfully  at 
Sulkowski,  who  rushed  to  the  priest  and  whispered 
something  to  him  ;  Augustus  HI  evidently  wishing 
to  be  beforehand  with  his  excuse  muttered  to  Guarini, 

'  I  did  not  wish  to  look  at  it — it  is  mythology.' 

'  Eh  ! '  answered  the  Padre  laughing,  '  mythology 
might  be  dangerous  for  your  Majesty,  but  not  for  an 
old  man  like  me.' 

Sulkowski  tried  to  stop  the  priest,  but  the  Padre 
insisted,  while  the  King  was  embarrassed,  and  he 
frowned  at  Sulkowski.  Guarini  had  no  wish  to  give 
in,  and  repeated,     'I  must  see  it.' 

Sulkowski's  position  became  unpleasant,  for 
through  this  picture  he  had  now  compromised  the 
King,  who  always  wished  to  be  regarded  as  a  man 
of  severe  morals. 

'  Sentile ! '  said  Guarini  to  Sulkowski,  '  if  you  do 
not  show  me  the  picture,  I  might  think  that  you  have 
brought  something  very  ugly  into  the  palace,  and 
that  you  are  endeavouring  to  serve  two  gods  at  the 
same  time, — ruling  the  country  and  being  fond  of 
art, — one  of  these  two  you  must  do  badly,  for  the 
saying  is  —  cJii  due  lepri  caccia,  una  non  piglia  e 
Valtralaseia.' 


Count  Briihl  209 

Sulkowski's  conscience  pricked  him,  and  he  went 
towards  the  case  followed  by  the  Jesuit.  The  King 
inclined  his  head  towards  the  window.  They  lifted 
the  cover  ;  Guarini  clapped  his  hands. 

'  A  masterpiece  ! '  he  exclaimed,  '  miraviglia  !  But 
why  do  you  say  that  the  picture  is  immoral?  On 
the  contrary  !  The  culprits  are  punished.  Vulcan 
catches  them,  and  he,  according  to  sensus  paganorum, 
represents  God's  justice.  As  to  Venus,  the  poor  thing 
is  not  dressed,  ma — ' 

The  Jesuit  waved  his  hand.  The  King  looked  at 
him  relieved  and  happy  at  this  explanation,  and  cried 
to  Sulkowski :  '  Bring  it  here  !     Show  it  to  me  ! ' 

The  minister  brought  the  picture.  The  King  was 
looking  at  Venus  with  evident  admiration,  when  there 
happened  what  they  dreaded  most.  While  all  were 
bent  over  Venus,  the  door  leading  from  the  Queen's 
apartment  opened  and  Queen  Josephine,  like  an 
avenging  angel,  proudly  entered  the  room. 

In  the  twinkling  of  an  eye  the  cover  was  replaced, 
Father  Guarini  retreated  towards  the  window,  the 
King  looked  up  to  the  ceiling,  and  Sulkowski  tried 
to  conceal  the  case.  But  nothing  can  escape  a  jealous 
and  suspicious  woman.  The  Queen  Josephine  guessed 
everything,  blushed,  frowned  and  moved  towards  the 
King  who  slowly  rose  to  greet  her. 

'  We  are  to  have  an  opera  to-day,'  he  said,  '  Faustina 
will  sing.' 

'Very  well,'  the  Queen  answered,  looking  at 
Sulkowski,  'but  I  see  that  you  have  some  other 
entertainment  here.  What  is  it  that  the  Count 
so  carefully  conceals  ?  ' 

The  Queen  painted  herself  and  was  fond  of  art, 
and  by  the  shape  of  the  case  easily  guessed  its  con- 
o 


210 


Count  Briihl 


tents.    The  King,  knowing  her  strict  and  exaggerated 
modesty,  grew  confused. 

*  An  interesting  picture,'  the  King  said,  *  but  a 
little  too  mythological ! ' 

Josephine  blushed,  grew  angry,  and  looked  at 
Sulkowski. 

'  I  am  also  fond  of  art,'  she  said,  '  but  not  that  art 
which  panders  to  vulgar,  sensual  propensities ;  the 
best  painting  cannot  redeem  a  wicked  thought.' 

Understanding  the  nature  of  the  picture  the  Queen 
could  not  insist  on  seeing  it,  and  perchance  imagined 
it  worse  than  it  was. 

Sulkowski  guessed  that  she  was  angry  with  him 
for  showing  a  lewd  picture  to  the  King.  It  was  a 
fact,  that  the  Queen  suspected  the  courtiers  of  inducing 
the  King  to  indulge  in  such  amours  as  his  father  had, 
and  she  considered  that  to  show  Augustus  III  lewd 
pictures  would  be  one  of  the  means  of  corrupting  him. 

Father  Guarini  changed  the  subject  of  conversation, 
protected  Sulkowski,  saved  the  King  from  embarrass- 
ment, and  began  to  talk  about  the  quarrels  of  Italian 
actors,  whom  he  continually  had  to  reconcile. 

The  Queen  remained  deep  in  thought  and  gloomy ; 
she  did  not  know  how  to  conceal  her  thoughts.  The 
King  knew  that  she  would  scold  him  severely  for 
being  too  familiar  with  Sulkowski ;  he  sighed  and 
longed  for  the  opera,  where,  in  his  musical  ecstasies, 
he  might  forget  the  sorrows  that  were  unavoidable  in 
private  life,  even  though  he  occupied  a  throne  where 
he  could  sit  half  the  day  smoking  a  pipe  in  a  robe  de 
ehavihre  and  smiling  at  the  fancies  of  a  slow  imagination. 

Sulkowski  and  Guarini  slipped  out,  leaving  the 
consorts  alone,  which  was  the  best  way  of  putting  the 
Queen  into  a  better  frame  of  mind. 


CHAPTER  XIV 

One  of  the  greatest  enjoyments  of  the  court  of 
Saxony  during  the  reign  of  both  Augustus's  was 
the  opera,  one  of  the  best  of  those  times  in  Europe 
and  in  some  respect  perhaps  leven  superior  to  the 
most  famous  theatres  and  orchestras. 

Excellent  as  was  the  selection  of  singers  in  Augustus 
the  Strong's  times,  the  opera  was  in  no  way  inferior 
during  the  reign  of  his  son,  who  was  also  fond  of 
music.  While  listening  to  the  music  he  was  exempt 
from  talking,  which  he  disliked,  and  permitted  to 
plunge  into  reverie,  in  which  he  spent  almost  his 
whole  life. 

The  French  singers  of  the  King,  at  the  head  of 
whom  was  Louis  Andre,  numbered  about  twenty 
and  with  them  from  time  to  time  sang  Germans,  such 
as  the  tenor  Gotzel,  and  Italians  such  as  Annibal. 

The  court  orchestra  under  the  famous  Hasse, 
Faustina's  husband  in  name,  was  composed  of  fifty 
members ;  besides  this  there  was  also  a  Polish 
orchestra  for  chamber  music,  conducted  by  Schltze, 
which  consisted  of  seventeen  members.  The  King 
would  take  it  to  Warsaw  when  staying  there  a  long 
time. 

Operas  and  French  comedies  were  performed  by 
turns,  for  which  purpose  there  were  eleven  actors 
and  sixteen  actresses,  and  in  order  to  vary  the  per- 
formance there  was  a  French  ballet  composed  of 
sixty  people  under  the  direction  of  M.  Faxier 


212  Count   Briihl 

EnormouB  sums  of  money  were  spent  to  maintain 
so  large  a  company.  When  they  were  going  to  give 
Hasse's  opera  *  Egio/  for  which  Metastasio  wrote  the 
libretto  on  the  triumph  of  Caesar,  conqueror  of 
barbarism,  there  were  on  the  stage  a  hundred  horses, 
the  whole  Roman  senate,  knights,  lictors,  pretorian 
guards,  heavy  and  light  cavalry,  infantry  ;  and  the 
booty  was  represented  by  gold  and  silver  lent  from 
the  king's  treasury  for  use  on  the  stage.  The  spec- 
tators were  amazed,  the  members  of  the  orchestra 
were  stupefied,  and  it  is  a  fact  that  the  drummer 
made  a  hole  in  the  drum  from  sheer  astonishment. 
There  were  two  hundred  and  fifty  people  on  the  stage ; 
the  opera  house  was  lighted  with  eight  thousand  wax 
candles  and  the  manager  was  brought  specially  from 
Paris ;  his  name  was  Servadoni.  Some  of  the 
performances  cost  as  much  as  100,000  thalers. 

Faustina  Bordoni,  still  beautiful  in  figure  and 
fascinating  in  voice,  made  a  great  impression  on 
Augustus  III.  Tlie  same  opera  would  be  repeated 
again  and  again  for  months  and  the  enthusiastic  and 
dreamy  king  never  tired  of  the  same  songs,  which 
would  lull  him  charmingly  in  the  land  of  dreams. 

About  that  time,  besides  Faustina,  who  ruled 
absolutely  behind  the  stage,  appeared  the  so-called 
Faustina  the  second,  Teresa  Abbuzzi  Todeschi,  not 
younger,  but  perhaps  more  beautiful,  and  equally 
daring.     It  was  said  that  Briihl  was  her  patron. 

That  day,  after  being  performed  many  times, 
'  Cleophile  '  was  again  to  be  repeated.  The  King 
was  already  in  his  box,  ^he  theatre  was  full,  the  hour 
arrived — but  the  curtain  did  not  rise. 

This  was  most  unusual.  But  la  diva  Faustina  was 
a  privileged  person  ;  they  waited  patiently. 


Count  Briihl  213 

In  the  mean  while  a  storm  was  raging  behind  the 
stage.  Faustina  would  not  sing  with  Teresa — Teresa 
swore  that  she  would  not  appear  on  the  stage  with 
Faustina. 

Nobody  knew  why  they  were  so  angry.  They  both 
quarrelled  madly,  but  though  their  tongues  were  let 
loose,  they  did  not  reveal  the  cause  of  their  wrath. 

A  third  singer,  called  Piloja,  stood  aside,  listening 
to  the  stream  of  coarse  street  language,  and  smiled  as 
though  the  spectator  of  a  comedy. 

The  voices  from  behind  the  stage  reached  the  hall, 
and  Sulkowski  sent  a  page  to  learn  what  the  trouble 
was.  The  page  returned,  having  learned  no  more 
than  that  it  would  require  Neptune  with  a  three- 
pronged  fork  to  pacify  the  excited  waves.  Sulkowski 
whispered  to  the  King  and  a  page  was  despatched  for 
Father  Guarini  who  alone  could  unravel  the  mystery. 

In  the  meanwhile  Faustina  and  Teresa  stood 
opposite  to  each  other  as  though  ready  for  a  fight, 
both  were  ready  dressed  for  the  stage  and  neither 
paid  any  attention  to  the  fact  that  their  anger  [ruined 
the  colours  with  which  their  faces  were  painted. 

The  duel  might  have  been  fought,  had  not  Father 
Guarini  rushed  in  like  Deus  ex  viachina.  Seeing  him 
both  women  became  silent.  The  Padre  looked  at 
them,  then  took  Faustina  aside.  He  seemed  to  be 
scolding  her  tenderly. 

A  wave  of  expectation  followed  the  dispute.  The 
orchestra  began  to  tune  their  instruments.  Faustina 
went  immediately  to  the  mirror,  which  was  a  good 
sign,  and  Guarini  began  to  talk  to  Teresa,  thi-eatening 
her  with  a  finger  laid  on  his  big  nose.  Teresa  was 
nearly  crying.  They  whispered  for  a  while,  then  the 
Padre  cried : 


214  Count    Briihl 

*  Pace  I  If  you  are  stubborn,  mia  cava,  you  might 
cader  dalla  papella  nelle  hrage.  Hasten.  The  over- 
ture should  commence.     The  King  is  waiting.' 

At  that  moment  Briihl  came  behind  the  stage  ;  he 
looked  at  Faustina,  nodded  to  her,  then  at  Teresa,  to 
whom  he  made  some  sign,  and  while  the  orchestra 
was  playing,  all  took  their  places. 

Father  Guarini  nodded  to  Briihl,  and  they  both 
went  through  narrow  passages  in  which  the  managers 
were  omnipotent,  making  storms,  thunderbolts,  ruling 
over  heavens  and  gods,  into  a  small  room  behind  the 
stage,  in  which  a  dressing  table  and  women's  clothing 
indicated  that  it  was  the  dressing  room  of  one  of 
these  ladies,  who  not  long  ago  quarrelled  so  passion- 
ately, and  who  were  now  singing  a  most  harmonious 
duet. 

Guarini  and  Briihl  were  both  tired  and  silent,  they 
sat  beside  each  other,  looking  into  each  other's  faces  ; 
the  Jesuit  began  to  smile. 

'  Here  '  he  said,  '  nobody  can  see  or  hear  us,  it  is  the 
hiding  place  of  that  viper  Teresa,  here  we  are  safe 
Let  us  talk.' 

He  clasped  Briihl's  knee. 

Briihl  bent  to  the  Jesuit's  ear. 

'  Lichtenstein  has  the  plan ;  go  with  him  to 
Vienna.' 

*  Va  bene,'  said  Guarini.  '  I  prepared  the  Queen. 
I  am  certain  that  Sulkowski  threatens  that  he  will 
drive  us  from  the  court,  that  he  will  separate  the 
Kiag  from  the  Queen,  and  that  he  will  give  him 
somebody  else.' 

The  Jesuit  laughed  and  shrugged  his  shoulders. 
'  He  thought  of  it  a  little  too  late  ! ' 
Briihl's  face  became  gloomy. 


Count  Briihl  215 

'  One  must  know  how  to  act  with  the  King,'  said 
Guarini.  '  It  is  not  his  fault  that  he  inherited  his 
father's  passions  and  that  he  must  fight  against  them. 
The  Bible  calls  it  visiting  the  sins  of  the  fathers 
upon  the  children.  The  Great  Augustus  in  giving 
him  life  gave  him  also  a  passionate  disposition.  He 
will  not  be  able  to  control  it,  therefore  we  must  at 
least  guard  it  from  scandal,  shield  his  sins  and  make 
them  secret,  and  not  allow  them  to  be  suspected.  If 
we  required  from  him  absolute  purit}^  of  life,  there 
would  be  outbursts  of  this  passion.  Cosa  fatta  eapo 
ha.  What  is  done  is  well  done.  Sulkowski  calculated 
badly,  poor  thing  ;  the  place  is  taken,  the  transaction 
is  closed  and  although  the  King  loves  him  he  will 
not  betray  his  secret  to  him.  We  are  the  masters  of 
the  situation  ;  and  I  rejoice,  &r  I  know  that  I  save  a 
soul — the  sin  I  take  on  myself.' 

They  began  to  whisper. 

'Sulkowski,'  said  Briihl,  'is  wearied;  the  King 
made  him  a  general,  and  he  cannot  become  famous 
by  knightly  deeds  during  the  peace.  He  mentioned 
that  he  would  like  to  make  a  military  excursion  on 
the  Rhine  or  into  Hungary.  Did  the  King  himself 
suggest  that  idea  to  him  ?     During  that  time — ' 

Guarini  muttered  that  he  understood  and  approved 
the  idea. 

'  I  will  tell  the  King  that  Sulkowski  needs  rest, 
and  everything  shall  be  done.' 

The  Italian  made  some  quick  gestures  like  a 
magician's  pass  before  Briihl's  eyes,  rose  and 
continued : 

'Go  to  the  King,  applaud  Faustina  in  order  to 
please  him  ;  do  not  prevent  Sulkowski  from  being 
near  the  King.     I  have  good  reason  to  believe  that 


216  Count    Briihl 

lie  is  going  to  criticise  the  singer ;  the  King  will  be 
annoyed,  and  it  will  be  useful.' 

He  laughed,  made  a  movement  with  his  head, 
opened  the  door,  and  having  stepped  out  into 
the  dark  labyrinth  of  passages  behind  the  stage, 
disappeared. 

Briihl  presently  appeared  in  the  King's  box. 

The  opera  house  was  profusely  illuminated.  The 
court,  as  splendid  as  in  Augustus  II's  time,  was 
gathered  there.  The  Polish  nobles,  clad  in  their  rich 
national  costumes,  shining  with  precious  stones, 
occupied  the  first  places.  The  King  looked  towards 
them  with  a  friendly  smile.  Among  the  ladies  one 
could  see  the  most  brilliant  stars  of  the  court ;  the 
richly  dressed  Countess  Moszynski,  proud  Frau 
Briihl,  quiet  Countess  Sulkowski,  the  wives  of  the 
envoys,  the  Queen's  ladies-in-waiting,  everybody  who 
had  access  to  the  court. 

The  King  turned  towards  the  stage  every  time  the 
beautiful  Faustina  came  upon  it,  and  listening  to  her 
voice,  closed  his  eyes  as  if  he  dreamed  of  angels. 
Sometimes  he  would  applaud  la  diva,  and  then 
everybody  clapped  their  hands. 

The  King  very  seldom  looked  towards  the  beautiful 
ladies  and  when  he  did  glance  their  way,  his  eyes 
immediately  returned  to  Faustina. 

His  admiration  for  her  was  justified  by  her  voice. 

Frau  Briihl,  luxuriously  dressed,  was  sitting 
opposite  the  King,  looking  thoughtful.  Her  great 
challenging  beauty  attracted  everyone's  attention ; 
the  King  alone  remained  unconscious  of  it,  or  did 
not  wish  to  see  her,  and  had  not  Augustus  HI  been  a 
simple-minded  man,  one  might  have  suspected  that  he 
wished  to  hide  something. 


Count  Briihl  217 

Beside  Frau  Briihl,  sat,  modestly  dressed,  the 
Countess  Sulkowski,  formerly  the  Queen's  lady-in- 
waiting,  nee  von  Stein  Jettigen.  Her  beautiful  face 
had  not  the  irresistible  charm  so  attractive  in  Frau 
Briihl.  With  the  Countess  Sulkowski  was  a  young 
girl.  Nobody  knew  her.  But  being  with  the 
Countess  as  well  as  by  her  face  and  dress,  one  could 
guess  that  she  belonged  to  a  distinguished  family. 

The  beautiful  women  of  those  times,  more  than 
any  other,  were  remarkable  for  their  ample,  round 
figures.  Small  and  frail  girls  found  no  admirers. 
Those  famous  favourites  of  Augustus  II's  were  almost 
all  bold  riders,  fond  of  hunting,  of  rifles  and  horses, 
looking  like  silvan  goddesses,  not  frightened  to  meet 
a  wild  beast. 

The  unknown  young  girl,  sitting  with  the  Countess 
Sulkowski,  was  one  of  those  beauties  and  looked  like 
a  flower  blossoming  on  a  strong  stem.  Pink  and 
white,  built  like  Diana,  black-eyed  and  black-haired, 
she  looked  about  her  boldly  and  proudly.  But  in 
that  daring  manner  there  was  yet  a  childlike 
innocence  of  any  experience  of  the  world.  Her  eyes 
looked  at  everything  with  childlike  enthusiasm  and 
boldness. 

A  black  dress  with  some  scarlet  ribbons  and  a  few 
jewels  enhanced  her  wonderful  beauty  ;  all  eyes  were 
turned  inquisitively  towards  her,  and  their  owners 
asked  feverishly : 

'  Who  is  she  ?  ' 

Frau  Briihl  also  looked  at  her  neighbour. 

The  Countess  Moszynski  did  not  take  her  eyes  off 
her,  and  the  young  men  went  in  search  of  the  Countess 
Sulkowski' s  servants  in  order  to  learn  something  from 
them  ;  but  they  learned  nothing  more  than  that  the 


218  Count  Briihl 

young  lady  was  the  Countess'  relation,  and  that  she 
came  from  Vienna. 

In  the  meanwhile  Sulkowski,  having  noticed  that 
Briihl  went  to  his  wife,  bent  to  the  King's  ear  and 
whispered : 

'Your  Majesty,  works  of  art  are  worthy  of  admira- 
tion, but  the  work  of  the  Creator  also  deserves  atten- 
tion. Athough  the  Countess  Stein  is  my  wife's 
relation,  I  venture  to  draw  your  Majesty's  attention 
to  her  extraordinary  beauty.  Neither  Titian  nor 
Paul  Veronese  ever  created  anything  like  her.' 

On  hearing  this,  the  King  turned,  as  though 
frightened,  to  his  minister,  looked  at  him  reproach- 
fully and  in  surprise,  and  plunged  into  further 
admiration  of  Faustina's  voice  and  charms.  Sul- 
kowski withdrew.  He  knew  the  King  so  well  that 
he  was  certain  that,  struggle  with  himself  as  he  might, 
he  would  play  the  same  comedy  as  he  did  with 
Titian's  Venus.  He  was  right  in  his  supposition. 
The  King  with  great  caution,  pretending  that  he 
looked  elsewhere,  directed  his  eyes  to  the  beautiful 
Countess  Stein.  Then  as  though  alarmed  by  her 
loveliness,  he  turned  his  eyes  back  to  the  stage.  Some 
time  elapsed  and  the  King  looked  again  at  her. 
Augustus  ni's  head  still  turned  towards  the  stage, 
but  his  half-closed  eyes  gazed  on  that  shining 
star. 

As  he  looked  round  the  King's  eyes  met  Frau 
Bruhl's,  whose  white  finger  lay  against  her  little 
nose  as  if  she  were  threatening  him. 

At  that  moment  the  King  began  to  clap  his  Hands 
applauding  the  singer,  and  everybody  followed  his 
example.  A  keen  observer  would  have  seen  how 
Faustina  frowned   at   the  King;    how  Frau   Briihl 


Count  Briihl  219 

looked  at  him  impatiently,  how  Moszynski  eyed  her 
husband,  and  how  Briihl  smiled  maliciously. 

At  last  the  grand  finale  resounded  with  the  power 
of  all  the  voices  ;  the  opera  was  ended.  The  ladies 
rose  and  with  them  the  beautiful  Countess  Stein, 
the  star  of  that  evening  ;  her  graceful  figure  appeared 
then  in  all  its  splendour.  The  King  dared  not  look 
again  in  her  direction. 

The  court,  after  supper,  retired  before  midnight. 
Briihl  having  received  the  King's  orders  went  home  ; 
Sulkowski  remained.  Frosch  and  Horch  slept  in 
the  corners.  Augustus  III  donned  a  robe  de  eliamhr^e 
and  smoked  a  pipe  in  his  own  apartment,  for  the 
smell  of  tobacco  was  forbidden  in  the  rooms  which 
he  shared  in  common  with  the  Queen.  All  those 
who  smoked  had  separate  rooms  for  the  purpose  ; 
the  ladies,  feeling  an  aversion  to  the  fumes,  would 
not  suffer  smoking  in  theirs. 

'  I  don't  know '  Sulkowski  said,  '  whether  your 
Majesty  deigned  to  look  at  Adelaida  Stein,  but  I 
venture  to  insist  that  she  is  unusually  beautiful. 
If  our  lord  the  King,  Augustus  the  Strong,  of  blessed 
memory,  were  alive,  I  am  sure  he  would  admire  her 
extremely.' 

The  King  turned,  looked  at  Sulkowski,  but  said 
not  a  word.  Sulkowski  laughed,  took  the  King's 
hand  and  kissed  it. 

*I  am  your  Majesty's  old  servant,'  continued  he, 
'  and  I  admire  my  lord's  virtue.  Your  Majesty  lives 
like  a  model  nobleman,  although  kings  have  some 
privileges.  During  the  performance  to-day  I  noticed 
with  what  admiration  the  women  looked  towards 
your  Majest3\  Adelaida  Stein  told  my  wife  that  she 
never  saw  a  better-looking  man  than  your  Majesty.' 


220  Count   BrUhl 

He  became  silent.  The  King  played  with  his 
china  pipe  and  did  not  look  at  him,  pretending  that 
he  heard  not  the  tempter. 

'  Faustina  sang  like  a  nightingale,'  said  the  King, 
changing  the  drift  of  the  conversation. 

*  But  Faustina  looks  well  only  on  the  stage.  If 
I  am  not  mistaken  she  is  nearly  forty  and  Italian 
women  grow  old  quickly  ;  Adelaida  Stein  is  lovely.' 

Augustus  III,  instead  of  answering,  shrugged  his 
shoulders. 

'  May  it  be  permitted  me  to  express  my  admiration  ? 
Your  Majesty  might  be  a  saint,  and  yet  not  a  happy 
man.     The  court  is  not  a  monastery.' 

Augustus  III  listened,  looking  at  the  ceiling. 

*  Would  your  Majesty  permit  my  wife  to  present 
her  relation  at  court  ?  '  asked  Sulkowski  not  abashed 
at  the  King's  silence. 

'Ask  the  Queen,'  impatiently  said  the  King. 

'  Adelaida  Stein  is  an  orphan  :  her  only  relation 
is  my  wife.  We  should  like  to  do  something  for 
her  future.  If  she  were  to  win  your  Majesty's 
favour,  here  in  the  court,  she  might  find  a  husband, 
and  I  know  that  she  would  like  to  stay  here.' 

Again  he  was  silent,  waiting  for  a  word  in  reply. 
The  King's  reticence  led  him  into  an  error  :  he 
thought  he  must  be  more  explicit.  Therefore  he 
continued  : 

'  If  your  Majesty  should  care  for  Adelaida  Stein, 
nobody  would  guess  your  fancy.' 

He  looked  at  the  King,  whose  face  grew  pale,  his 
hands  trembled  and  his  eyes  fell.  Sulkowski 
became  frightened  and  ceased  speaking.  Augustus 
III  rose. 

*  Sulkowski/   he  said  in  a  suppressed  voice.     '  I 


Count  Briihl  221 

do  not  wish  to  be  angry  with  yoM — but  you  forget 
yourself.* 

He  paced  up  and  down,  his  face  flushed  ;  evidently 
he  was  struggling  with  himself,  trying  to  prevent 
his  anger  from  bursting  forth. 

Never  had  his  favourite  seen  him  so  angry  with 
him.  He  was  alarmed  and  kneeling  on  one  knee 
put  out  his  hand  for  the  King's  hand.  Augustus  III 
hesitated,  but  at  length  he  gave  it  to  him. 

'  Not  a  word  more  ;  everything  is  forgotten.  Stein 
must  leave  Dresden  at  once.' 

Thus  saying,  he  turned  away. 

'To-morrow,'  the  King  said  after  a  moment  of 
silence,  '  send  hounds  and  huntsmen  to  Hubertsburg. 
I  have  not  hunted  for  a  long  time.  Briihl  and  you 
shall  come  with  me — the  Queen  also.  I  wish  to 
hunt  for  three  days.  First  day  reindeer,  the  second 
par  force,  the  third  woodcock.' 

Sulkowski  bowed. 

'  I  shall  give  orders  at  once.' 

*Yes,  have  everything  ready — we  start  in  the 
morning.' 

And  having  dismissed  Sulkowski  with  a  nod  of 
his  head,  Augustus  directed  his  steps  towards  the 
Queen's  apartment.  The  minister  followed  him, 
and  silently  asked  for  the  King's  hand.  Augustus 
III  seemed  to  have  already  forgotten  all  that  had 
happened,  gave  it  willingly,  and  smiled  as  carelessly 
and  cordially  as  usual. 

The  next  and  the  following  days  they  hunted  in 
Hubertsburg  and  the  forests  by  which  it  was 
surrounded.  The  King  was  in  a  good  humour, 
which  was  the  case  every  time  the  hunt  was 
successful.     Briihl  and  Sulkowski  accompanied  him 


222  Count  BrtiHl 

The  first  day  the  Queen  mentioned  that  she  had 
heard  from  Padre  Guarini,  who  loved  Sulkowski, 
that  the  Count  would  like*  to  make  a  military 
excursion  on  the  Rhine  and  into  Hungary.  It  was 
attributed  to  his  desire  to  get  military  experience 
in  order  to  be  better  able  to  serve  Saxony.  The 
King  listened  to  his  consort  and  shook  his  head. 

'  He  is  already  a  good  general,'  he  said,  '  I  cannot 
get  along  without  him.' 

The  Queen  did  not  insist.  The  third  day  they 
returned  to  Dresden  and  the  same  day  the  King 
ordered  arrangements  to  be  made  for  target  practice 
in  the  courtyard  of  the  castle.  His  usual  companions 
tried  their  skill  against  his,  but  Briihl,  although  he 
shot  well,  took  great  care  not  to  shoot  better  than  the 
King. 

Having  rested  for  one  day,  the  King  went  to  hunt 
in  Klappendorf .  The  following  day  he  hunted  rein- 
deer in  Grossenhayn,  then  in  Stanchitz,  and  passed 
the  night  in  Moritzburg. 

Then  he  returned  to  Dresden,  for  Faustina  was  going 
to  sing.  The  ladies  occupied  the  same  places ; 
Augustus  ni  looked  at  Faustina  alone.  Only  when 
he  perceived  General  Bandissin  turning  towards  him, 
did  he  look  round. 

Countess  Sulkowski  occupied  her  box  by  herself. 
The  King  breathed  more  freely.  He  made  some 
remark  to  the  General  and  when  the  singing  began, 
turning  his  eyes  towards  the  stage,  he  glanced  at 
Frau  Briihl,  who,  sad  and  thoughtful  and  more 
beautiful  than  ever,  was  looking  with  contempt  as 
if  the  whole  world  was  a  matter  of  indifference  to  her. 


CHAPTER  XV 

The  King*s  birthday,  the  seventh  of  October,  was 
celebrated  at  Hubertsburg  Castle.  Augustus  III 
was  very  strict  about  maintaining  the  etiquette  of 
the  court,  introduced  by  the  Queen.  The  whole 
court  was  gorgeously  dressed  at  eight  o'clock  in  the 
morning,  waiting  in  the  large  hall  for  the  King, 
whose  custom  it  was  at  this  hour  to  attend  Mass. 
All  the  men  wore  orange-yellow  uniforms,  but  as 
they  were  going  to  hunt  immediately  after  breakfast, 
they  wore  jack-boots.  Emerging  from  the  chapel, 
the  King  and  Queen,  and  everybody  from  the  court 
who  wished  to  please  them,  repaired  to  the  so-called 
Rubenstein  Cross.  From  there  the  hunt  started,  and 
the  King  rode  after  reindeer  which  had  been  brought 
to  the  spot  for  the  purpose.  Sulkowski,  Briihl,  the  old 
General  Bandissin  and  all  the  men  belonging  to  the 
court  accompanied  the  King,  who  was  in  an  excellent 
humour.  In  the  morning  the  Queen  had  prepared 
a  surprise  and  presented  him  with  her  own  portrait 
painted  by  herself.  Having  kissed  the  hand  of  the 
august  artist,  the  King  ordered  the  precious  picture 
to  be  hung  in  his  room.  Sulkowski  brought 
from  Giustinian's  in  Venice  a  very  beautiful  picture 
by  Palma  Veccio,  and  deposited  it  at  the  King's 
feet.  Briihl  brought  him  a  picture  painted  by 
Rembrandt.  Pictures  always  pleased  the  King  welL 
Those  which  he  liked,  he  would  order  to  be  hung 
in  his  room  and  would  gaze  at  them  in  silence,  and 
only  when  tired  of  looking  at  them  would  he  order 
them  to  be  hung  in  the  new  gallery* 


224  Count  Briihl 

Tliey  killed  three  reindeer  that  day  and  the  King 
became  still  more  good-humoured,  he  did  not  speak 
more,  but  he  smiled,  winked  his  eyes,  raised  his 
head,  and  his  face  beamed  with  satisfaction.  He 
smiled  several  times  to  Sulkowski,  as  if  wishing 
to  smooth  over  any  impression  that  he  was  still 
angry  after  that  unfortunate  evening. 

The  hunt  was  over  early  and  they  went  to  Huberts- 
burg,  where  dinner  awaited  them.  During  the  hunt 
the  Queen  was  present,  and  although  her  gloomy  face 
betrayed  that  she  was  tired,  she  made  an  effort  to 
smile  and  be  agreeable  to  everybody.  Even  Sulkowski 
got  a  few  kind  words  from  her. 

As  soon  as  dinner  was  over  they  started  for  Dresden, 
where  an  opera,  three  ballets  between  the  acts,  the 
smiles  of  Faustina  and  a  cantata  composed  by  Hasse 
specially  for  the  day,  awaited  the  King.  At  five 
o'clock,  the  curtain  rose  in  the  theatre,  lighted  mag- 
nificently and  filled  with  the  court  beautifully  dressed, 
and  Faustina,  dressed  more  carefully  than  ever,  came 
forth  staring  at  the  King's  box. 

The  new  King  was  beaming  with  joy,  quite  happy 
because  his  life  flowed  smoothly,  not  disturbed  by  any- 
thing. He  never  asked  the  Fates  for  more,  neither 
for  fame,  nor  conquests  ;  all  he  cared  for  was  perfect 
quiet,  during  which  he  could  eat,  laughing  at  Frosch 
and  Horch,  then  smoke  a  pipe,4ook  at  good  pictures, 
listen  to  Padre  Guarini's  chatter,  enjo}^  Faustina's 
singing  and  go  to  bed,  with  no  misgivings  for  the 
next  day. 

In  his  quiet  life  there  was  however  a  dark  secret. 
No  one  knew  the  King  better  than  Sulkowski,  but 
even  from  him  was  hidden  one  of  the  corners  of  his 
character,  in  which  was  hiding  a  passion  ashamed  to 
show  itself  to  the  world  and  the  people. 


Count   Briihl  225 

Father  Guarini  alone,  as  a  confessor,  knew  how 
strong  that  passion  was,  and  he  alone  could  entirely 
subdue  the  King.  Following  his  directions  Briihl 
as  sistedby  his  mother-in-law  and  his  wife  took  the 
impregnable  stronghold  and  was  master  of  it  before 
Sulkowski  made  the  attempt.  When  he  took  that 
unfortunate  step  it  was  already  too  late.  The  place 
was  taken,  another  was  already  in  possession,  even 
his  best  friend  Briihl,  who  pretended  that  he  knew 
nothing  and  that  he  did  not  wish  to  know  anything, 
never  betraying  the  secret  even  by  the  slightest 
allusion,  and  was  more  powerful  than  Sulkowski  who 
never  even  suspected  that  there  could  be  anyone  more 
essential  to  the  King  than  himself. 

After  the  attempt  with  Adelaida  Stein,  he  felt  still 
stronger,  thinking  that  his  failure  was  the  best  proof 
that  no  one  could  dominate  the  King  by  means  of  a 
woman.  While  he  felt  so  assured  he  stood  on  the 
edge  of  a  precipice  which  he  did  not  see. 

Faustina  made  a  great  effort  that  day  and  sang 
marvellously.  The  King  raising  his  eyes  was  in 
ecstasies.  It  seemed  that  he  was  looking  only  at  her, 
although  a  sharp  eye  could  have  detected  that  from 
time  to  time  he  glanced  towards  Briihl 's  wife. 

Frau  Briihl  was  charming  that  day.  Everybody 
was  astounded  that  Briihl  could  afford  to  pay  for  all 
the  luxury  with  which  she  was  surrounded.  Frau 
Briihl  evidently  wished  to  be  the  greatest  beauty 
of  that  evening  and  she  had  put  on  a  gold  and  white 
dress  in  which  she  looked  like  a  virgin.  A  very 
becoming  head-dress,  with  a  stream  of  diamonds, 
white  lace  on  satin,  diamond  earrings,  that  shone  like 
two  big  stars,  made  her  the  queen  of  the  evening. 

The  Countess  Moszynski  with  her  severely  beauti- 
ful features,  reminding  many  of  Cosel,  was  beautiful 
P 


226  Count   Briihl 

but  in  no  way  did  she  rival  Frau  Briihl.  All  eyes 
looked  at  her,  she  did  not  look  at  anybody.  Leaning 
on  one  arm,  she  turned  towards  the  stage,  but  her 
eyes  fixed  on  one  spot  were  sad. 

Briihl  was  envied,  at  which  he  smiled.  Dressed 
as  gorgeously  as  his  wife,  looking  fresh  and  young, 
he  seemed  rather  to  be  a  dissipated  lazy  man,  than 
the  most  hard-working  of  ministers  to  whom  the  fate 
of  the  state  was  entrusted. 

After  the  first  act,  a  French  ballet  followed,  con- 
ducted by  Monsieur  Favier,  with  the  famous  solo 
dancer  Desmoyers,  Mademoiselles  Rottier  and  Vauria- 
ville,  who  were  dressed  as  ideal  peasants. 

After  the  opera  the  elite  of  the  court  were  invited 
to  a  supper,  as  was  the  custom  in  the  time  of 
Augustus  the  Strong. 

The  enormous  hall  of  the  castle  was  illuminated*with 
thousands  of  candles  ;  the  table  was  set  for  eighty 
people  ;  there  was  a  separate  table  for  the  King  and 
Queen.  According  to  the  etiquette  of  the  Austrian 
court  only  cardinals  were  invited  to  the  King's  table. 

The  King  was  in  an  excellent  humour  that  night ; 
the  Queen  was  gloomy,  uneasy,  and  sad  as  usual. 
The  beautiful  women,  who  softened  her  cold  and 
majestic  bearing  by  their  charms,  saddened  and 
irritated  her,  although  the  King  gave  her  no  reason 
to  be  jealous  :  on  the  contrary  he  was  most  attentive 
to  his  consort  and  did  not  gaze  at  any  of  the  ladies 
present. 

The  supper  was  served  very  ceremoniously.  The 
dishes  were  brought  in  with  great  pomp,  and  every 
toast  was  announced  by  trumpet  and  drums.  After 
ten  o'clock  all  left  the  table  in  excellent  humour  ;  the 
King  accompanied  by  S\ilkowski  and  Briihl  went  to 
his  apartment.     Passing  the  row  of  ladies  Augustus 


Count   Briihl  227 

III  affected  not  to  see  any  of  tliem,  but  when  lie 
passed  Briihl's  wife  he  exchanged  with  her  a  signifi- 
cant look. 

Sulkowski  did  not  see  anything,  neither  did  he 
guess  anything.  Taking  advantage  of  the  King's 
good  humour  he  decided  to  speak  to  him  confidentially 
and  try  to  overthrow  Briihl.  Augustus  was  equally 
kind  to  them  both. 

They  entered  the  room  where  the  lackej^s  were  in 
readiness  to  undress  the  King  and  to  give  him  his 
much-preferred  rohe  de  eliamhre.  Both  ministers 
waited  till  the  lackeys  were  dismissed,  when  Sulkow- 
ski whispered  something  to  the  King,  smiled  and 
pointed  to  Briihl.  The  minister  noticed  the  move- 
ment and  came  near ;  Sulkowski  began  to  whisper  to 
him.  It  was  evident  that  Briihl  did  not  like  what  he 
said,  he  looked  at  the  King,  hesitated  a  little  as  though 
he  regretted  leaving  them  together,  then  he  bowed 
submissively  and  left  the  room. 

When  the  door  was  closed,  Augustus  III  smiled 
and  sitting  in  a  chair,  said  laconically  as  was  his 
custom  : 

'  There  are  only  you  and  Briihl.' 

Sulkowski  did  not  like  the  sound  of  the  rival  name, 
but  he  was  obliged  to  put  up  with  it. 

The  pictures  presented  to  the  King  that  day  stood 
before  him,  and  he  looked  at  them  with  evident  delight. 
Sulkowski  tried  to  guess  the  King's  thoughts. 

*  Yes,'  said  he  after  a  while,  '  Briihl  is  excellent  for 
many  reasons ;  he  is  modest,  intelligent,  never 
contradicts  me.  I  do  what  I  please  with  -him.  I 
am  very  satisfied  with  him.' 

The  King  only  nodded.  Perhaps  it  may  have 
seemed  to  him  strange  that  Sulkowski  should  speak  in 
that  patronising  way  about  Briihl,  but  he  did  not  showit 


228  Count   Briihl 

The  minister  walked  to  and  fro  as  if  he  were  in  his 
own  room. 

'  I  have  not  the  slightest  reason,  as  I  said,'  continued 
Sulkowski,  *  to  be  dissatisfied  with  Briihl  ;  he  is 
intelligent  and  capable,  but  has  some  faults — ' 

The  King  looked  at  him  sharply ;  Sulkowski 
finished  imperturbably. 

'  He  is  a  spendthrift,  he  will  cost  us  too  much/ 

Having  said  this  the  Count  stopped  before  the 
King,  as  if  waiting  for  some  reply.  The  King  cleared 
his  throat,  raised  his  eyes  and  was  silent. 

*  He  is  a  good  man — '  he  whispered  at  length,  see- 
ing that  the  Count  waited  for  his  answer. 

He  finished  by  stroking  the  arm  of  his  chair  and 
looking  at  the  pictures. 

'  If  my  gracious  lord  will  permit  me  to  express  my 
thoughts — '  Sulkowski  continued. 

Augustus  nodded  affirmatively.  The  minister  bent 
a  little  and  said  in  a  whisper : 

*  Not  now,  for  we  need  Briihl,  but  later  on  we  could 
get  along  with  small  officials  and  thus  save  a  great 
deal  of  money,  foi  it  would  be  very  difficult  to  teach 
him  economy.  Athough  I  fear  no  rivalry,  because  I 
am  sure  of  the  heart  of  my  gracious  lord,  why  should 
we  make  Briihl  unhappy  by  letting  his  ambition 
grow?  The  Emperor  would  give  the  Kolowraths 
some  estate  in  Bohemia,  if  your  Majesty  were  to  ask 
him.     They  could  not  retire  there — ' 

Sulkowski  looked  to  see  what  impression  his  sug- 
gestion had  on  the  King,  but  he  was  gazing  so 
intently  at  the  pictures  that  he  seemed  not  to  hear. 

The  Count  added — '  Later,  later  ! '  but  Augustus 
glancing  at  him  replied  neither  in  the  negative  nor 
affirmative  and  got  rid  of  him  by  silence. 

After  a  time  he  rose  to  look  at  the  pictures,  walked 


Count   Briihl  229 

several  times  across  the  room  and  yawned,  which  was 
the  sign  that  he  wished  to  retire.  Sulkowski,  not  at 
all  satisfied  with  the  result  of  his  proposal,  kissed  the 
King's  hand  and  left  the  room. 

While  this  was  going  on  in  the  castle,  Briihl,  sent 
away  on  some  pretext,  gave  orders  that  he  was  to  be 
carried  home.  In  front  of  him  there  was  another 
porte-chaise  which  he  recognised  as  his  wife's.  They 
both  alighted  almost  at  the  same  moment.  Briihl, 
who  seldom  met  his  wife,  offered  her  his  arm.  She 
was  about  to  refuse  it  but  upon  reflection  accepted 
it,  smiling  ironically,  and  not  saying  a  word  she  went 
upstairs  with  him. 

On  the  stairs  Briihl  did  not  speak,  but  when  they 
reached  the  first  floor,  although  the  lady  wished  to 
withdraw  her  arm,  he  did  not  allow  her  to  do  so  and 
escorted  her  to  her  apartment.  They  found  them- 
selves again  in  the  same  room  in  which  the  first  night 
after  their  wedding  they  held  that  interesting 
conversation. 

From  that  moment  they  had  met  only  for  a  moment 
and  in  the  presence  of  witnesses.  In  the  mornings 
the  mother  would  be  with  her  daughter,  would  take 
her  to  her  house  and  keep  her  there  under  some 
.pretext. 

Briihl's  duty  was  only  to  satisfy  all  his  wife's 
fancies,  which  he  already  willingly  performed  ;  for 
the  rest  they  lived  as  strangers,  meeting  only  when 
obliged,  and  getting  as  little  in  each  other's  way  as 
possible.  Briihl  was  patient  and  polite.  Sometimes 
he  would  meet  his  wife's  inquisitive  glance  which  she 
withdrew  as  soon  as  he  noticed  it. 

Frances  changed  a  great  deal :  she  grew  still  bolder 
and  more  fanciful,  she  learned  how  to  command  her 
household,   and   required   that   her   will   should    be 


230  Count  Briihl 

obeyed  in  the  twinkling  of  an  eye :  sometimes  she 
was  unnaturally  merry,  sometimes  mercilessly  ironical, 
sometimes  coquettish  with  strangers,  so  much  so  as 
even  to  arouse  jealousy  in  such  an  indifferent  husband 
as  Briihl  seemed  to  be  ;  she  grew  more  beautiful 
every  day.  Although  he  was  in  love  with  the 
Countess  Moszynski  and  although  it  was  suspected 
that  he  had  relations  with  Abbuzzi,  being  yet  a 
young  man  he  could  not  be  indifferent  to  his  wife's 
charms,  which  seemed  to  mock  his  passionate 
looks. 

When  they  entered  the  dressing  room  Frau  Briihl 
withdrew  her  arm  and,  going  to  the  dressing  table, 
put  down  her  gloves.  She  expected  that  her  husband 
would  leave  her  and  was  surprised  to  see  him  standing 
between  a  table  and  a  chair. 

Her  look  seemed  to  say :  '  You  are  still  here  ?  * 
Briihl's  enigmatical  smile  seemed  to  answer  :  '  Yes, 
madam,  I  am  waiting.' 

'  Have  you  anything  to  tell  me  ?  '  asked  she. 

'  Will  you  not  permit  me  to  sit  down  and  rest,  and 
look  on  your  beauty  ?  ' 

Frances  turned  and  laughed,  shrugging  her  white 
shoulders  ;  then  she  turned  again  towards  the  mirror 
not  without  a  certain  coquettish  movement,  which 
Briihl  noticed. 

'  Will  you  not  agree  that  my  position  is  a  very 
peculiar  one  ? ' 

'  Mine  is  also  peculiar  ;  but  neither  you  nor  I  need 
be  surprised  at  that.' 

'  You  made  me  hope,  that  sometimes — you  might 
have  a  fancy  even  for  your  husband.' 

*  Yes !  It  may  be  that  I  said  that,  I  do  not 
remember,'  she  answered  carelessly,  '  but  it  is  certain 
that  I  have  not  that  fancy  yet.     Go  and  play  cards 


Count  Briihl  231 

with  Moszynski  or  amuse  yourself  with  Abbuzzi,  and 
let  me  alone.     You  worry  me.' 

'  I  ask  you  only  for  a  moment's  conversation.' 

*  Let  us  talk  then  but  about  something  else.' 
'  About  the  King  ?  '  said  Briihl. 

'  I  do  not  know  if  that  will  be  permitted,'  answered 
Frances  laughing. 

*  Between  ourselves — we  have  no  sentiments,  only 
a  common  interest.' 

*  You  are  right ;  then  ?  ' 

'  How  is  the  King  disposed  towards  Sulkowski  ? 
asked  Briihl. 

There  was  a  long  silence.  Could  one  have 
seen  within  the  woman's  heart,  one  would  have 
noticed  that  the  question  hurt  her.  She  knew 
that  [this  man  did  not  care  much  for  her,  and 
because  of  some  strange  caprice  she  wanted  to 
please  him,  in  order  to  enjoy  tormenting  him.  An 
indifferent  question  hurt  her  but  she  did  not  betray  it. 

*  Ah  !  '  she  exclaimed.  '  You  wish  me  to  be  sincere  ? 
Sulkowski,  you  and  even  the  King,  you  worry  me 
horribly  !  What  do  I  care  about  your  ambitions  and 
your  quarrels  ?  I  wish  to  enjoy  life  !  The  King  is 
a  doll  without  life  !  ' 

*  For  God's  sake  !  '  exclaimed  Briihl,  wringing  his 
hands. 

'  Nobody  is  listening  to  us,'  said  she  indifferently. 
'  You  told  me  to  amuse  myself  with  the  doll,  or  rather 
you  gave  me  to  understand  that  he  might  play  with 
me,  but  you  can't  expect  me  to  be  in  love  with  him. 
You  know  the  King  best.  Good-looking,  kind,  in- 
capable of  anything  doubtful,  passionate  without 
sentiment,  attached  without  courage  to  show  it,  pious 
and  superstitious,  lascivious,  timid,  thoughtless, 
tiresome — dreadfully  so.' 


232  Count  Briihl 

'Madam,'  Briihl  cried,  *were  all  that  true  you 
should  not  say  it,  and  I  should  not  listen  to  it.' 

*  Then  let  us  yawn,'  the  woman  answered  and  she 
opened  her  mouth:  then  she  threw  herself  on  the 
sofa  as  if  she  were  tired,  her  head  hanging  do^oi, 
her  arms  fallen  along  her  body ;  in  that  melancholy 
and  coquettish  position  she  was  charming.  Briihl 
looked  and  sighed. 

*  You  asked  me  about  Sulkowski,'  said  Frances  slowly. 
The  minister  nodded. 

*  Who  can  guess  what  that  doll  the  King  thinks  ? 
Has  he  a  heart  ?  Is  he  capable  of  love  ?  Can  he 
love  anybody  sufficiently  to  become  attached  ?  He  is 
fond  of  Sulkowski  as  he  is  of  his  two  fools,  I  know 
nothing  more.' 

'  But  if  we  are  to  rule,  I  through  you,'  said  Briihl, 
*  we  must  get  rid  of  him.' 

*  And  send  him  to  Kbni^stein  as  you  did  Watzdorf  ? ' 
the  woman  rejoined  frowning. 

The  name  fell  as  a  stone  between  them ;  the 
minister  grew  confused. 

*I  give  you  my  word,  that  it  was  not  I,  but 
Sulkowski,  who  sent  Watzdorf  to  Konigstein.' 

*  The  word  of  a  diplomatist  ?  ' 

'  No,  of  an  honest  man,'  said  Briihl,  putting  his 
hand  on  his  breast.  '  You  could  not  say  that  I  got 
rid  of  him  on  account  of  jealousy.  Till  now  I  have 
had  no  right  to  be  jealous — ' 

*  What  do  you  mean  by  till  now  ?  Do  you  expect 
to  have  the  right  ?  ' 

'It  seems  to  me,'  said  Briihl  gallantly,  'if  not  to- 
day then  to-morrow  you  may  tire  of  this,  who  knows  ? 
Perchance  you  might  deign  to  look  at  your  servant.' 

*  It  seems  to  me  that  jou  will  have  to  wait  a  long 
time  for  that,'  the  woman  whispered. 


Count   Briihl  233 

'I  shall  be  patient,'  said  BriiliL 

'  Croyez  et  huvez  de  Veau^''  rejoined  the  woman. 

Briihl  shivered  but  said  coolly  : 

'  You  ought  to  help  me  to  overthrow  Sulkowski.' 

'Yes,  mother  told  me  the  same,  implying  that 
he  might  introduce  Adelaida  Stein  or  some  other 
woman  to  the  King.     What  do  I  care  for  that  ?  ' 

*  But  are  you  not  fond  of  diamonds,  dresses,  luxury, 
high  living  ?  '  Briihl  asked. 

They  looked  into  each  other's  eyes. 

'Very  well  then,'  she  said,  'we  shall  overthrow 
Sulkowski,  it  will  be  a  revenge  for  Watzdorf ;  it  will 
be  a  distraction.     We  shall  overthrow  that  boaster.' 

'  But  you  must  act  carefully,  slowly,  you  must — ' 

He  wanted  to  explain  to  her  at  length,  when 
Frances  rose,  as  if  lacking  in  patience. 

'  You  think  I  need  some  instruction  ? '  she  said 
laughing.  'And  what  am  I  a  woman  for?  You 
think  it  necessary  to  teach  me  cunning,  how  to  pour 
the  poison  by  drops,  how  to  whisper  traitorous 
words  ?  How  to  answer  suspicions  with  a  double- 
meaning  word  ?  Ah  !  my  dear  sir,  I  was  brought 
up  at  court.  I  looked  at  you  ministers,  my  mother 
was  my  teacher,  who,  while  still  in  the  cradle,  taught 
me  how  to  lie,  how  to  love  falsehood  ! ' 

And  she  laughed  strangely,  almost  desperately. 

'  Be  assured,  I  shall  overthrow  him,  and  when  I 
choose,  you  also — ' 

Suddenly  she  became  silent,  she  put  a  handkerchief 
to  her  eyes,  and  went  slowly  to  her  chamber.  She 
locked  the  door  behind  her  ;  Briihl  remained  alone. 


CHAPTER  XYI 

'In  a  narrow  street  near  the  wall  of  the  old  city,  not 
far  from  the  river  Elbe,  stood  a  small  house  in  a 
garden  surrounded  with  a  wall.  One  could  easily 
see  that  it  had  been  recently  erected,  and  care  had 
been  taken  to  make  it  handsomer  than  the  other 
houses.  On  the  walls  the  architect  had  suspended 
stone  flowers,  round  the  windows  were  placed 
ornaments,  graceful  curves  took  the  place  of  straight 
lines,  thus  making  the  building  very  fantastic. 

On  the  gate  stood  two  vases  brought  from  Italy  in 
order  to  remind  one  of  that  country.  On  one  side  of 
the  house  a  verandah  also  reminded  one  of  the  Italian 
pergole.  The  front  of  the  house  turned  towards 
the  river  Elbe.  Young  trees  already  gave  some 
shadow,  and  two  old  linden  trees,  which  remained 
from  byegone  times,  spread  their  branches  widely. 

One  autumn  evening  a  woman  was  sitting  on  the 
balcony.  She  was  the  personification  of  wistful 
longing.  She  was  young,  beautiful,  but  sad  as 
night  ;  her  black  eyebrows  were  contracted,  in  her 
dark  eyes  shone  tears ;  she  put  her  elbows  on  her 
knees,  leaned  her  head  on  her  hands,  and  looked  into 
the  distance. 

It  was  easy  to  recognise  in  her  an  Italian,  for  such 
a  beautiful  form  nature  grants  only  to  her  elect 
children,  growing  in  air  filled  with  the  scent  of 
orange  blossoms.  On  the  half-open  red  lips,  between 
which  could  be  seen  her  white  teeth,  there  lingered 
a    song.      Her   thoughts    interrupted    it,    the   voice 


Count  Briihl  235 

stopped,  and  after  a  while  flowed  on  again  like  a 
dream,  then  died  away  in  silence,  changing  into  a  sigh. 

She  was  alone,  her  thoughts  concentrated  on  her- 
self, turned  into  stone  by  longing,  wearied  of  life. 
The  song  flowed  from  habit,  the  tears  flowed  from 
the  heart. 

Dressed  as  if  she  were  in  her  own  country,  she 
could  dream  about  the  warm  Italian  autumn,  for  the 
day  was  warm.  She  wore  a  light  dress,  slipping 
from  her  shoulders,  her  black  hair  was  loose,  her 
arms  were  bare.  It  was  difficult  to  guess  her  age — 
the  first  years  of  youth  had  hardly  passed  and  it 
was  followed  by  those  in  which  one  longs  after  youth 
and  looks  forward  to  the  future,  though  fearing  the 
latter  in  the  meanwhile.  Her  eyes  were  already 
familiar  with  tears  and  the  mouth  seemed  no  more 
to  yearn  after  kisses,  for  she  was  already  familiar 
with  their  sweetness.  Her  body  was  near  the  dreary 
river  Elbe  under  the  sky  of  the  North,  but  her 
thoughts  were  far  beyond  the  mountains  and  seas. 

To  the  left  the  sun  was  setting  in  an  orange-yellow 
sky  and  she  turned  her  eyes  in  that  direction.  Just 
then  steps  were  heard  in  the  narrow  street.  The 
dreamy  woman  heard  them  and  awoke  from  her 
dreams.  She  became  frightened  and  listened. 
Someone  knocked  at  the  gate.  Afraid,  she  wrapped 
herself  in  her  gown,  gathered  up  her  dishevelled 
hair  and  disappeared  into  the  house. 

Another  knock  was  heard  at  the  gate.  An  old 
grey-haired  man,  wearing  only  a  shirt  and  a  cotton 
cape  opened  the  door  and  looked  out.  At  the  gate 
stood  a  good-looking  man,  who,  without  asking  per- 
mission, walked  through.  The  old  man  muttered 
something,  closed  the  door  and  followed  him. 

The    new-comer    asked   the   old   man   in   Italian 


236  Count  Briihl 

whether  Teresa  was  at  home  and  received  from  him 
an  answer  in  the  affirmative.  He  went  quickly 
towards  the  house,  the  door  of  which  stood  open.  The 
entrance  hall  was  empty ;  he  went  upstairs  and 
knocked  at  the  door;  an  old,  poorly  dressed  woman 
opened  it  and  let  him  in. 

The  guest  entered  and  found  only  the  stool  upon 
which  the  Italian  was  sitting  a  short  time  ago.  The 
door  leading  to  the  balcony  was  open.  The  view 
from  here  was  so  charming  that  he  stopped,  looked 
at  it  and  grew  meditative. 

The  rustling  of  a  dress  was  heard  behind  him,  and 
the  same  woman  whom  we  saw  on  the  balcony 
advanced  slowly.  She  now  wore  a  voluminous  black 
dress  and  her  hair  was  negligently  tied.  Her  face 
bore  the  same  expression  of  weariness. 

She  nodded  as  her  guest  turned  to  greet  her. 
They  spoke  in  Italian. 

*  What  is  the  matter  with  you  ? '  the  stranger  asked. 
*I   am   not   well!     I    am    dying    from    longing,' 

answered  the  Italian  sadly.     *  I  cannot  live  here  !  ' 
'  Where  does  such  despair  come  from  ?  ' 
'  From  the  air  ! '  the  woman  cried,  throwing  herself 

on  a  sofa. 

The  man  sat  opposite  her  on  a  chair. 

*  From  the  air ! '  she  repeated,  *  I  cannot  breathe 
here  !     I  cannot  live  here  !     I  must  die  here  ! ' 

'  But  what  is  the  matter  ?  ' 

*  You  see ' 

*  Then  again  that  longing  ?  ' 

*  It  has  never  left  me.' 

*I  am  sure  Faustina  has  done  something  again,' 
said  the  visitor.     It  was  Briihl,  as  one  could  guess. 

'  Faustina  ? '  she  said  looking  at  him  angrily. 
'  You  think  and  talk  only  of  her  !  ' 


Count   Briih] 


237 


*  Why  do  you  not  eclipse  Faustina  ?  Why  do  you 
not  try  to  please  the  King  ?     She  is  older * 

*  She  is  a  witch  as  old  as  the  world — ■'  interrupted 
Teresa.  *  An  abominable  comedian.  But  with  that 
King ■ 

*  Pray,  speak  with  respect  about  him  ! ' 
Teresa's  mouth  twitched. 

*  I  will  give  you  some  advice,'  said  Briihl,  *  when 
you  sing,  always  turn  towards  the  King,  look  at  him, 
smile  to  him,  be  coquettish.  If  he  applaud  you,  you 
are  first.' 

'  But  in  the  meanwhile  that  old  Faustina  is  first. 
The  King  is  ruled  by  habit,  and  has  no  taste.  She 
has  a  coarse  voice  and  grey  hair.  But  it  does  not 
matter,  she  is  a  diva,  and  we  eompars  I ' 

'  Teresa,  listen,'  said  Briihl,  '  do  not  despair,  it 
shall  be  changed,  Faustina  shall  return  home,  you 
shall  remain.' 

*  I  would  prefer  the  contrary,'  Teresa  muttered. 

^I  have  not  time  to-day  to  talk  that  matter  over 
with  you,'  said  Briihl.  *At  any  minute  I  expect 
Padre  Guarini  to  rap  at  the  door.  Tell  old  Beppo 
to  let  him  in.  I  could  not  see  him  elsewhere  and  I 
told  him  to  come  here.  Give  him  something  sweet, 
but  not  your  lips  which  are  the  sweetest,  and  leave 
us  alone.' 

Teresa  listened  with  indifference  ;  then  as  though 
forced  to  obey,  she  rose  and  moved  slowly  towards  the 
door  calling  her  old  woman,  to  whom  she  whispered 
a  few  words.     Briihl  paced  up  and  down  the  room. 

Teresa  turned,  looked  at  him  and  went  to  the 
sofa,  but  a  muffled  knock  at  the  door  forced  her  to 
rise  again  to  welcome  the  Jesuit. 

A  swift  step  was  heard  on  the  stairs  and  the  long 
iaee  of  the  Padre,  smiling  kindly,  appeared  in  the 


238  Count   Brtihl 

doorway.  He  noticed  Teresa  as  she  put  in  order  the 
things  scattered  about  the  room. 

'  Let  that  be,'  he  exclaimed.  '  I  am  not  a  guest, 
but  one  of  the  family.  I  feel  so  happy  to  be  with 
my  countrymen.' 

Briihl  came  over  to  Quarini. 

*  What  news  ? '  he  asked.     '  Is  he  going  away  ?  ' 

'  Yes,'  said  the  Padre  laughing.  *  The  King  himself 
told  him  to  go  and  rest  after  working  so  hard.  Do 
you  understand?  Very  cleverly  done.  I  never 
expected  the  Queen  to  be  so  cunning.  She  said  to 
the  King,  "  I  know  that  you  will  be  longing  after 
Sulkowski,  that  we  shall  not  be  able  to  find  a 
substitute  for  him,  but  he  is  killing  himself  with 
hard  work.  He  is  made  for  the  active  life  of  a 
soldier,  let  him  go  and  smell  some  powder,  and 
return  refreshed."  The  King  kissed  her  hand, 
thanking  her  for  her  sympathy  for  his  favourite, 
and  he  said  :  "I  shall  tell  Sulkowski  to-day  to  go 
and  travel,  and  pay  his  expenses."  We  must  not 
stint  the  money  !  Let  him  go  !  Let  him  go  ! ' 
exclaimed  Guarini. 

Briihl  accompanied  him. 

'  Let  him  go  !  ' 

^He  shall  stay  a  few  months,'  the  Padre  con- 
tinued, 'we  shall  have  plenty  of  time  in  which  to 
prepare  the  King's  mind  to  dismiss  him.' 

Briihl's  face  brightened. 

'  During  that  time  you  know  what  you  have  to 
do,'  added  Guarini.  '  You  must  not  act  against  him ; 
that  would  be  dangerous.  Leave  that  to  me  and 
the  Queen.  Sulkowski  hurt  many  by  his  pride ; 
as  soon  as  they  realise  that  his  good  luck  may 
forsake  him,  they  will  help  us.  You  must  remain 
his  friend  till  the  end.' 


Count   Briihl  239 

'  That  was  my  idea  also,'  said  Briihl,  *  even  t  shall 
p;'otest  against  his  departure,  arguing  that  I  shall 
not  be  able  to  do  everything  without  Sulkowski/ 

'Very  well,'  said  Guarini.  ^ Al  7iemico  il  ponte 
d'oro  chi  fuge — when  the  King  asks  for  money,  give 
it  lavishly.' 

'  Even  to  the  last  thaler,'  said  Briihl,  rubbing  his 
hands ;  then  recollecting  that  he  must  show  his 
gratitude,  he  kissed  the  priest's  hand. 

'  Lontano  dagli  oceJii^  lontano  dot  cuore,^  muttered 
'the  Padre.     '  Tlie  King  will  get  accustomed  to  you.' 

They  both  walked  to  and  fro,  the  Padre  was 
pondering. 

'He  leaves  his  wife,  she  will  communicate  with 
him,'  he  said  quietly. 

'  We  must  have  some  people  round  her.' 

'  One  would  do,'  said  Guarini,  '  but  it  seems  that 
she  is  not  so  easy  to  deal  with,  and  it  is  difficult 
to  find  a  man  for  such  a  function.' 

They  began  to  whisper. 

'Agoceia  agoecia  si  cavala'pietra — '  added  the  Padre 

Teresa  entered  from  the  other  room ;  she  was 
better  dressed  out  of  respect  to  the  priest ;  she 
brought  some  fruit  which  she  placed  on  the  table. 

The  priest  clapped  her  on  the  shoulder  in  the 
Italian  fashion,  she  kissed  his  hand.  He  took 
several  medals  from  his  pocket,  and  gave  Teresa 
one  for  herself,  and  two  for  her  mother  and  the 
old  Beppo,  for  which  she  kissed  his  hand  again. 

The  dusk  was  already  falling  when  Briihl  and  the 
Padre  left  the  room  in  which  Teresa  remained,  as 
sad  as  before.  The  old  mother  came  to  keep  her 
company,  but  they  both  longed  so  wistfully  after  their 
own  sun-bathed  country  that  they  could  not  speak. 

They  had  not  yet  lighted  the  lamp  in  order  not 


240  Count   Briihl 

to  attract  the  mosquitoes,  wlien  there  was  again  a 
rap  at  the  door.  Teresa  did  not  rise  although  sha 
was  curious  to  know  who  was  there  :  who  could 
bring  her  any  consolation  ? 

They  could  hear  a  conversation  being  carried  on  in 
Italian  with  Beppo  on  the  stairs  ;  it  was  a  woman's 
voice.  Teresa  sprang  from  her  seat,  her  mother 
also  rose.  In  the  dusk  they  perceived  on  the 
threshold  a  tall,  well-dressed  and  good-looking 
woman,  and  Teresa  to  her  great  surprise  recognised 
her  antagonist  Faustina. 

The  stage  queen  looked  round  the  room  and 
seemed  to  be  thinking  what  to  say. 

Teresa  stood  silent. 

'  Do  you  see,  I  come  to  you,  I !  '  Faustina  said 
laughing.  *  I  waited  in  vain  for  you  to  come  to  me, 
and  I  came  to  make  peace  !  My  dear  Teresa,  we 
are  Italians,  both  from  that  beautiful  country,  where 
the  oranges  blossom,  and  instead  of  making  our 
life  sweet,  we  poison  it.  Give  me  your  hand  and 
let  us  be  friends.' 

Teresa  hesitated,  then  she  began  to  cry  and  threw 
herself  on  Faustina's  neck. 

'  I  never  was  your  foe  ! '  she  exclaimed.  '  I  have 
not  taken  a  lover  from  you,  I  never  spoke  ill  of  you.' 

'  Let  us  forget  about  the  past !  '  Faustina  rejoined. 
'  Let  us  not  speak  of  it,  let  us  be  friends.  Our  life 
is  bitter  enough,  poisoned  by  others ;  we  need  not 
help  them.' 

Faustina  sighed. 

*  I  come  to  you,  for  I  pity  you ;  but  what  is  the 
use  of  good  advice  and  of  kind  words  ?  They  are 
too  late,  nobody  can  stop  that  which  is  to  be.' 

She  became  silent ;  Teresa's  mother  left  the  room ; 
the  two  women  seated  themselves. 


Count  Briihl  241 


*  The  people  mar  our  happiness,'  said  Faustina, 
*and  we  must  swallow  our  tears.  It  is  not  our 
world — and  at  their  court  one  must  walk  as 
cautiously  as  on  ice,  in  order  not  to  slip  or  fall. 
Fortunately  I  have  the  King,  and  he  will  be  faithful 
to  my  voice.  He  is  a  good  creature,  who  goes  to 
his  box  as  a  horse  to  his  stable,  and  I  furnish  him 
with  his  food  of  songs.' 

She  laughed  and  bent  and  kissed  Teresa's 
forehead. 

*  I  pity  you,  you  are  in  that  man's  hands  ' 
Teresa  looked  timidly  round  and  said  : 

'  I  am  afraid  of  my  own  mother.' 

*  And  I  am  not  afraid  of  anybody,'  said  Faustina. 
'  But  tell  me  do  you  know  him  ?  ' 

Teresa  shivered. 

'He  is  a  dreadful  man ! '  Faustina  said.  ' He  is 
sweet,  kind,  but  his  laughter  hisses  like  that  of  a 
serpent ;  he  smiles  but  he  has  no  heart.  And  so 
pious,  so  modest — ' 

Faustina  shook  herself  and  continued  : 

'I  have  come  to  tell  you,  that  soon  he  will  rule 
absolutely  over  us  all,  and  then  woe  to  any  of  us  if 
we  resist  him.     Poverina  ! ' 

Teresa  was  silent.     Faustina  continued  : 

'  Perhaps  he  is  good  to  you,  but  if  you  could  henr 
complaints,  as  I  do  everyday,  about  his  oppression, 
you  would  hate  him.' 

'  My  dear  Faustina,'  Teresa  at  last  replied,  '  I  am 
80  glad  you  came  to  see  me.  I  am  so  miserable  !  I 
dream  continually  of  the  Adriatic  sea  :  it  seems  to 
me  that  I  sit  on  the  threshold  of  our  cottage — lucciole 
fly  in  the  air,  Alidrea  plays  the  guitar — the  song 
resounds,  the  wind  brings  the  scent  of  flowers.  I 
wake   up,  listen :    the   wind-  rustles,  but   it  brings 

Q 


242:  Count  Briihl 

snow,  and  the  strange  tongue  resounds  and  the  people 
laugh  and  their  irony  wounds  and  their  love  humiliates.' 
Teresa  covered  her  face  with  her  hands. 

*  Cara  viia/  said  Faustina  kissing  her,  *  therefore 
kt  us  not  tease  each  other  but  help  each  other  on 
this  thorny  path.' 

And  she  put  out  her  hand  whispering  : 

*  Be  careful  of  that  man,  for  he  is  dreadful,  and 
may  the  Madonna  take  care  of  you.' 

Teresa  rose  and  accompanied  her  to  the  door. 

*  Addio  ! '  she  said.  *  May  God  reward  you  for  your 
good  heart ;  you  came  when  I  was  sad — I  am  happier 
now  that  we  are  friends.' 

Thus  they  separated  and  the  thoughtful  Faustina, 
whose  porte-chaise  was  waiting  in  front  of  the  house, 
told  the  men  to  carry  her  home.  She  was  obliged  to 
pass  the  castle.  The  dusk  was  not  yet  as  dark  in 
the  street  as  it  was  in  the  houses  and  one  could 
recognise  people's  faces.  Faustina  looking  dis- 
tractedly in  front  of  her  recognised,  in  a  porte-chaise 
passing  hers,  Sulkowski's  pale  face  and  black 
moustache. 

She  rapped  at  the  window  and  cried  : 

'  Fermate !  ' 

Sulkowski  leaned  out.  Both  porte-chaises  stopped 
so  that  their  windows  were  opposite  each  other  and 
their  occupants  could  converse. 

Faustina  dropped  the  glass  ;  the  minister,  a  little 
surprised,  looked  at  her. 

'  I  must  have  a  word  with  your  Excellency,'  she 
said  in  Italian. 

*  Beautiful  diva  !  '  said  the  Count,  '  if  it  is  a  question 
of  some  quarrel,  Padre  Guarini  is  for  that  ;  if  about 
some  favour,  our  gracious  King  never  refuses  you 
anything,  but  I  have  no  time  to  listen  to  you  ! ' 


Count   Briihl  243 

*  Count !  the  question  is  not  about  myself,  not 
about  a  favour,  but  about  you  and  the  King,'  said 
Faustina  boldly. 

*  I  am  at  your  service  and  I  listen  to  you,'  said  the 
Count  smiling. 

*  Ah  !  if  you  would  also  believe  me  !  ' 

The  Count  was  silent  and  tried  to  control  his 
impatience. 

'  Count,'  said  Faustina,  '  is  it  true  that  you  are 
going  away,  that  you  leave  the  place  to  your  foes  ?  ' 

Sulkowski  laughed. 

*  I  have  no  foes,'  he  said  quietly,  '  and  were  I  so 
fortunate  as  to  have  them,  (for  I  should  consider  it  an 
honour  to  gain  enemies  by  serving  the  King),  I  should 
not  be  afraid  of  them.' 

'  Do  not  mistrust  me,'  rejoined  Faustina.  '  But 
from  behind  the  stage  one  sees  the  world  well  and 
one  knows  people  better  than  in  the  drawing-room. 
Count,  I  am  a  friend  of  yours,  for  you  love  the  King 
and  you  wish  for  the  welfare  of  this  country  which 
I  consider  my  second  fatherland.  You  wish  that 
others  also  loved  the  King  but  they  think  only  of 
themselves  and  do  not  care  about  the  country  at  all.' 

Sulkowski  fro^vned. 

'But  who?     Who?' 

'  Are  you  blind  then  ?  '  Faustina  exclaimed.  *  Do 
you  not  see  anything  ?  Have  I  to  open  your  eyes  ? 
The  Queen  is  jealous  of  the  King's  favours  towards 
you,  the  almighty  Padre  Guarini  is  your  foe  and 
Briihl  your  rival.  They  made  a  plot  secretly,  they 
send  you  away  in  order  to  take  from  you  the  King's 
heart.  And  you  do  not  see  it !  That  man  will  take 
your  place !  ' 

Saying  this  she  wrung  her  hands ;  Sulkowski 
listened  ;  his  pale  face  flushed. 


244  Count  Briihl 

'My  dear  Signora,'  he  said,  'these  are  dreams  and 
visions.  I  am  going,  but  I  myself  asked  for  leaVe 
of  absence ;  I  have  no  enemies  and  I  am  sure  of 
the  King's  heart.  Be  assured  it  is  gossip,  flying 
round  the  court  like  mosquitoes  about  the  marshes. 
Believe  me,  I  am  not  blind  and  it  is  difficult  to  fool 
me  and  still  more  difficult  to  get  rid  of  me.' 

He  began  to  laugh.  He  wished  to  withdraw  when 
Faustina  exclaimed  : 

'  Count,  is  it  possible  that  you  are  so  blind  ?  Your 
noble  character  does  not  admit  of  treachery  which 
everybody  sees.' 

'  Because  all  that  has  no  sense.  Briihl  would  not 
dare,  even  had  he  such  allies  as  the  Queen  and  the 
venerable  Padre.' 

Faustina  lowered  her  head  and  said  slowly  : 

*  Therefore  that  which  is  destined  is  unavoidable. 
Chi  a  la  morte  e  destinato,  muore  santo  o  disperato. 
Addio,  signo'i-  donte  and  may  Providence  guide  you 
and  bring  you  back.  Do  not  stay  long  away.  You 
may  recolle'^t  Faustina's  warning,  but  it  will  be  too 
late.' 

The  Count  took  hold  of  her  hand. 

'Beautiful  and  good-hearted  signora,'  he  said,  'I 
am  very  grateful  to  you,  for  that  which  you  have  done 
is  the  proof  of  a  good  heart.  I  know  how  to  ap- 
preciate it.  But  things  are  not  as  bad  as  you  imagine. 
I  can  call  the  King  my  best  friend  ;  I  trust  him  and 
shall  not  be  disappointed  !     Be  easy  about  me  ! ' 

Faustina  said  nothing  more ;  the  Count  saluted 
her. 

But  he  changed  his  plans  and  ordered  his  men  to 
bear  him  to  Brlihl's  palace. 

It  was  a  time  at  which  he  had  a  good  chance  of 
finding  him  at  home.     He   did  not  need   to  ask  to 


Count  Briihl  245 

be  admitted,  for  before  the  almighty  Sulkowski  all 
doors  were  thrown  open. 
Briihl  was  at  home. 

Sulkowski  rushed  upstairs  and  did  not  notice  that 
a  page  preceded  him  through  another  door  to  tell 
his  master  about  the  visitor. 

Briihl  was  with  Henniche  whom  he  dismissed,  and 
before  Sulkowski,  who  was  obliged  to  pass  through 
several  drawing-rooms,  reached  his  study,  he  fell  on 
his  knees  before  a  crucifix  and  began  to  pray. 

The  easy  manner  in  which  he  assumed  that  position 
proved  that  it  was  not  for  the  first  time  that  he  found 
it  advisable  that  a  visitor  should  come  upon  him 
unexpectedly  praying. 

The  contemporary  writers  assure  us  that  Briihl  was 
very  often  found  praying. 

Sulkowski  entered  the  room  without  knocking  at 
the  door  and  stood  there  in  surprise  ;  it  was  the  first 
time  he  had  seen  Briihl  praying  and  he  could  hardly 
believe  his  OT\m  eyes  ;  he  stood  motionless,  while 
Briihl  with  his  back  turned,  as  though  'he  had  not 
heard  the  door  open,  knelt,  sighing.  At  length  he 
beat  upon  his  breast,  bending  his  head  as  low  as  a 
beggar  in  front  of  a  church  asking  for  alms. 

Sulkowski  could  not  have  suspected  that  all  this 
was  a  comedy,  for  he  entered  unannounced  and  in 
the  dusk  the  porte-chaise  could  not  have  been  noticed. 

The  farce  lasted  quite  a  long  time,  and  every  time 
Briihl  lifted  his  hand  Sulkowski  could  see  a  rosary- 
round  his  wrist.  At  length  the  Count  coughed 
slightly. 

Briihl  started  as  if  frightened,  and  having  per- 
ceived Sulkowski  covered  his  eyes  : 

'  Ah  !  dear  Count !  You  must  excuse  me — I  am 
ashamed — -but  sometimes  one  needs  to  pray — so  much 


246  Count   Briihl 

time  do  we  give  to  the  pleasures  of  life  and  it  is  only- 
right  that  some  should  be  given  to  prayer — ' 

*  It  is  I  that  must  beg  your  pardon,'  said  Sulkowski 
advancing  slowly,  '  and  I  am  edified  by  your  piety. 
Forgive  me  that  I  have  interrupted  you.' 

*  I  was  just  finishing,'  Briihl  said  pointing  to  the 
sofa. 

Two  candles  were  burning  on  the  table. 

*  A  man  who  prays  like  that,'  thought  Sulkowski, 
*  cannot  be  bad  and  perverse  ;  it  is  impossible.' 

A  heavy  weight  fell  from  his  breast.  He  looked 
at  Briihl  who  seemed  to  be  still  in  pious  ecstasies. 

*  Well,'  said  Sulkowski,  seating  himself  comfort- 
ably on  the  sofa,  *  you  know  that  I  am  going  away.' 

Briihl's  face  became  melancholy. 

*  You  must  do  as  you  please,'  he  said  slowly,  '  as 
for  me  I  neither  approve  your  voyage,  nor  do  I  advise 
it.  Speaking  fra:ikly,  I  was  against  it  and  I  am  still. 
In  the  first  place  nobody  can  be  a  substitute  for  you 
with  the  Kitig.  I  can  and  I  must  be  frank  with  you. 
The  Queen  is  a  saint,  but  she  is  a  woman.  If  you  go 
her  influence  will  increase  and  the  King  will  fall 
under  her  and  Guarini's  influence.  You  know  that 
I  am  a  good  Catholic  but  I  should  dislike  to  see  the 
King's  mind  too  much  under  the  influence  of  the 
priests.  Our  gracious  lord  hearkens  too  much  to  them 
already  and  hurts  the  feelings  of  his  Saxon  subjects.' 

Sulkowski  listened  very  attentively. 

*My  dear  Briihl,'  he  said,  'you  are  right  and  I 
endorse  your  opinion.  All  that  you  say  is  true.  You 
blame  me  for  going  away,  but  I  am  a  soldier.  The 
King  made  me  commander  of  his  army.  I  expect 
a  war  and  I  persuaded  the  King  that  war  is  inevitable, 
that  Saxony  must  take  advantage  of  the  situation  of 
Austria.     That  is  the  reason  why  I  wish  to  acquire 


Count  Briihl  247 

military   experience ;    I   go,    but   not  to  satisfy  my 
fancy — ' 

*  I  would  prefer  that  you  stayed,*  Briihl  rejoined, 

*  And  do  you  know  what  they  say  ?  *  asked 
Sulkowski. 

Brlihl's  face  expressed  surprise. 

*  It  is  very  curious,'  said  Sulkowski  slowly.  *  They 
warn  me  not  to  go,  for  you  and  Guarini  have  made  a 
plot  against  me,  to  send  me  away  purposely,  in  order 
to  overthrow  me.' 

Briihl  wrung  his  hands,  sprang  from  his  chair  and 
said  angrily : 

*  Show  me  that  slanderer  !  They  dare  to  say  that 
against  me !  I  and  Father  Guarini !  I  who  fear 
him  as  a  pestilence !  I  would  dare  to  attack  you 
whom  the  King  calls  friend !  It  is  stupid  and 
ridiculous ! ' 

'Calm  yourself,'  said  Sulkowski  laughing.  'I  told 
you  this  to  show  you  how  stupid  people  are.  I  hope 
you  do  not  think  that  I  distrust  or  fear  you.' 

And  he  added  after  a  while  : 

'  It  is  possible  that  a  foolish  man  might  make  such 
an  attempt,  but  it  would  cost  him  dear  ;  I  am  sure  of 
the  King's  favour,  he  has  no  secrets  from  me.' 

He  shrugged  his  shoulders  contemptuously. 

'  In  that  case,'  Briihl  rejoined,  *  I  shall  still  more 
insist  that  you  remain.' 

*  Excuse  me,  but  exactly  for  the  same  reason  I 
must  go,  in  order  to  prove  to  the  idiots  that  I  am  not 
afraid  of  anybody.' 

Briihl  waved  his  hand. 

'  I  am  sure  it  came  from  Berlin,  where  the  gossip 
about  Saxony  originated,'  he  said. 

'  I  am  going  to  Prague  to-morrow,'  said  Sulkowski, 
for  I  must  look  at  Prague  from  a  strategical  points 


248  Count   Briihl 

of  view,  as  we  are  going  to  take  it.  Can  I  take 
leave  of  your  wife  ?  ' 

Briihl  rang  the  bell.     The  lackey  entered. 

*  Is  your  mistress  at  home  ?  ' 

*  Yes,  your  Excellency.' 

*  Announce  the  Count  Sulkowski  and  me.' 

The  lackey  left  the  room  ;  there  was  silence  ;  then 
he  returned  and  said  : 

*  My  lady  is  ready  to  receive  your  Excellencies.' 
Sulkowski   rose  from   the   sofa   and   went  to  the 

drawing-room ;  Briihl  followed  him,  smiling  not- 
withstanding the  emotions  he  had  just  experienced. 

In  the  drawing-room  Briihl' s  beautiful  wife  was 
waiting  for  them.  She  had  just  returned  from  the 
Queen's  cerde,  which  was  usually  held  from  four  to 
six  o'clock.  She  was  dressed  and  radiant  in  her 
beauty  which  astonished  more  than  attracted.  There 
was  something  wild  in  her  eyes,  something  cruel  in 
her  mouth,  those  who  looked  at  her  became  uneasy. 
It  was  the  reflection  of  the  disquiet  raging  in  her 
soul. 

She  looked  at  Sulkowski. 

*  I  have  come  to  take  leave  of  you.'  said  Sulkowski 
with  indifference,  bowing  slightly.  *  I  am  sure  you 
know  I  am  going  away.  I  am  sorry  to  leave  such  a 
charming  court,  but  there  are  duties — ' 

'  Ah,  yes,'  said  the  beautiful  Frances,  *  I  heard  at 
her  Majesty's  eerde  that  you  are  leaving  us.  I  was 
very  much  surprised.' 

*  Did  your  husband  not  tell  you  about  it  ?  '  asked 
Sulkowski. 

*  My  husband  ! '  said  Frau  Briihl,  making  a  funny 
face,  '  he  is  so  busy  that  sometimes  I  do  not  see  him 
for  a  month.  I  have  to  learn  his  whereabouts  from 
other  people.' 


Count   Briihl  249 

*  You  OTiglit  to  scold  him  for  it.' 

*  Why  ? '  said  Frances  ironically.  *  He  is  free  and 
I  am  free  also.  Can  there  be  anything  more  agree- 
able in  matrimony  ?  We  have  not  time  to  be  saturated 
with  each  other  and  we  are  happy.' 

She  looked  scornfully  at  her  husband,  who  took  it 
as  mirthfully  as  he  could  and  laughed  in  the  most 
natural  way. 

*  Does  the  countess  remain  ?  '  the  lady  asked. 

'  Unfortunately,  I  must  leave  her ! '  rejoined 
Sulkowski.  '  Although  I  should  like  her  to  accom- 
pany me  on  the  campaign.' 

*  Then  you  think  of  fighting  ?  ' 

*  Yes  !  Pray  wish  me  good  luck  that  I  may  bring 
you  a  Turk's  head.' 

'I  do  not  wish  for  that,'  she  said  maliciously. 
*  Bring  back  your  own  head  safe,  that  will  suffice. 
With  a  wreath  of  laurels  on  it,  it  would  look  very 
well  on  a  medal.' 

Her  own  allusion  to  a  medal  recalled  Watzdorf 
to  her  memory  and  made  her  eyes  burn  with  fire. 

*  I  wish  you  good  luck,'  she  said,  making  a  curtsey. 
Her  eyes  said  something  else. 

Sulkowski  bowed  carelessly.  The  hostess  turned 
towards  her  apartment.  The  host  took  Sulkowski 
by  the  arm,  and  whispering  something  confidentially, 
led  him  back  to  his  study. 


CHAPTER  XVII 

One  winter  evening,  several  months  after  Sulkowski's 
departure,  Father  Guarini  entered  the  King's  room. 
It  was  the  hour  which  Augustus  III  was  accustomed 
either  to  spend  in  the  Queen's  apartment,  or  in  the 
opera,  or  shooting  at  a  target. 

Tliat  day  Augustus  III  remained  closeted  in  his 
room.  Twice  a  chamberlain  came  to  tell  him  that 
the  Queen  was  waiting  for  him,  but  he  sent  him 
away.  It  was  a  sign  that  the  King  was  in  a  very  bad 
humour.  So  they  told  Father  Guarini  about  it  and 
he  rushed  to  the  rescue.  He  alone  could  improve 
his  temper.  The  old  priest  entered  smiling  as 
usual. 

The  King  looked  at  him  gloomily  and  turned  away 
his  head. 

Notwithstanding  that,  the  Padre  sat  on  a  stool  and 
said  : 

*  May  I  ask  your  Majesty  what  makes  my  lord  so 
sad  ?     His  faithful  servant  is  sorry.' 

Augustus  III  moved  his  head,  muttered  something 
and  took  a  pipe. 

'It  would  relieve  your  Majesty,'  continued  the 
Jesuit,  *  if  your  Majesty  would  tell  me.' 

'  A  trifle,'  said  the  King. 

*  Then  it  is  not  worth  while  to  be  sad  about,'  rejoined 
the  Padre. 

'  A  trifle ! '  the  King  repeated,  and  having  risen, 
he  walked  to  and  fro,  sighing,  as  was  his  custom 
when  angry. 

Guarini  watched  him  attentively. 

'It  is  bad,'  he  said,  'that  your  Majesty,  working  so 
hard,  does  not  try  to  find  some  amusement.     Distrac- 


Count  Bmhl  251 

tion  is  necessary  to  a  man.  St  John  in  Patmos  had  a 
tame  partridge.' 

'  Partridge  ! '  the  King  repeated  thoughtfully.  ^  I 
prefer  hunting  for  woodcock.' 

He  resumed  his  walk,  sighing. 

'  We  must  have  either  an  opera,  or  hunting,  or 
pictures.' 

Augustus  III  waved  his  hand. 

'  Where  is  Briihl  ?  '  asked  the  Padre. 

*Ah!  Briihl!  Only  Briihl !  But  he  is  busy, 
poor  man,  let  him  rest.     Briihl  is  a  good  man.' 

'  Excellent ! '  affirmed  Guarini.  '  But  it  is  not  with 
him  that  your  Majesty  is  angry  ?  ' 

*  The  idea  !  Briihl — capital  fellow,  Briihl ! '  said 
the  King,  but  lowered  his  head. 

*  Well,  I  do  not  suppose  that  your  Majesty  is  craving 
for  Sulkowski.' 

The  King  stopped  suddenly,  and  Guarini  recognised 
that  he  had  discovered  the  cause  of  the  King's  bad 
humour. 

'Yes,  Sulkowski,'  said  the  King,  'just  imagine, 
Josephine  does  not  like  him.  How  can  anyone  help 
liking  Sulkowski  ?     Tell  me  that.' 

Guarini  became  silent.  The  question  was  straight 
but  he  did  not  answer  it. 

The  King  repeated  : 

'  Father,  how  can  one  help  liking  Sulkowski  ?  ' 

The  Jesuit  thought  for  a  long  time.  The  moment 
was  decisive,  it  Was  necessary  that  the  attack  should 
be  skilful,  and  he  thought  how  to  do  it. 

'  Your  Majesty,'  said  he,  '  personally  I  have  nothing 
against  Sulkowski.  As  a  Catholic  he  is  indifferent, 
that  is  true.  Then  it  seems  to  me  that  he  does 
not  show  sufficient  respect  to  our  saintly  Queen.' 

'  Oh  !     Oh  ! '  broke  in  the  King. 

*  At  least  people  think  so,'  said  Guarini  imperturb- 


252  Count  Briihl 

ably.     'It  is  certain  that  your  Majesty's  favour  made 
him  very  proud.' 

As  the  King  listened  he  grew  gloomier. 

*  Your  Majesty,'  said  Guarini  with  ardour,  'we  are 
alone,  nobody  but  God  hears  us.  Pray  tell  me,  as 
on  confession,  did  Sulkowski  never  lead  the  King 
into  temptation  ? ' 

At  this  Augustus  III  blushed,  turned  his  back  and 
continued  to  perambulate  the  room.  His  silence  was 
an  answer  in  the  affirmative.     Guarini  laughed. 

*  Is  it  not  too  daring  ?  I  can  understand  that  a  servant 
and  friend  might  sometimes  like  to  take  something  on 
his  own  conscience  for  his  master's  sake,  but  he 
might  at  least  wait  until  a  sign  is  given  him  to  act  so.' 

The  King  went  on  with  his  walk. 

'  The  Queen  has  a  presentiment,'  said  the  Padre. 
'  And  no  wonder !  But  satis  of  this.  It  is  well 
known  that  he  has  some  plans  against  Austria, 
against  the  house  from  which  we  have  our  Queen, 
and  against  our  promises — ' 

Augustus  sat  in  an  arm-chair  as  if  he  were  tired 
and  looked  at  the  priest. 

'  His  worse  fault  is  his  pride  which  makes  him 
believe  that  he  can  do  anything  he  likes  with  the 
King.  There  are  people  who  have  heard  him  say 
so.  A  little  humiliation  would  do  him  good,  for 
it  is  not  well  that  people  should  say  he  rules  over 
Saxony  and  not  our  gracious  King.' 

'  Eh  !  Eh  ! '  said  the  King,  'who  says  so  ?  Who- 
ever it  is,  hang  him !  ' 

'  Those  who  heard  Sulkowski  boast.' 

'  Boast !  That  is  bad  ! '  rejoined  the  King.  '  I 
shall  scold  him  for  that !  * 

Guarini  saw  that  the  King  was  already  tired  of 
the  subject,  and  he  tried  to  find  something  to  amuse 
him,  certain  that  the  seed  would  take  root  and  grow 


Count  Briihl  253 

At  that  moment  a  chamberlain  entered  again  and 
announced  that  the  Queen  was  waiting  for  the  King 
to  have  some  music. 

'  Let  us  go  ! '  said  Augustus  III  sighing. 

Guarini  bowed  and  they  went.  The  lackeys 
preceded  them  with  candelabras. 

The  Queen's  apartments  were  furnished  according 
to  Josephine's  taste.  There  w^as  no  luxury,  but 
in  the  severity  one  could  trace  the  majesty  of  the 
emperor's  palace.* 

The  pictures  were  all  religious'.  Instead  of 
bibelots  there  were  plenty  of  relics  and  crosses. 
The  court  was  composed  of  elderly  ladies  and  so 
chosen  that  their  beauty  would  not  prove  distracting 
to  the  King. 

That  day,  John  George  Pisendel,  the  most  famous 
violinist  of  those  times,  was  going  to  give  a  concert 
in  the  court  music  hall.  Besides  him  Pantaleon 
Heberstreit  was  going  to  play  on  an  instrument 
invented  by  himself  and  called  a  clavicembolo. 
Buffardia  and  Quanz  were  to  play  the  flute. 

The  Queen,  already  a  little  annoyed,  walked  to  and 
fro  waiting  for  her  consort.  When  he  entered  she 
came  up  to  him  and  tried  to  read  his  humour  in 
his  face  and  she  understood  that  he  was  displeased. 
Music  was  the  best  remedy. 

As  soon  as  the  King  sat  down  and  Buffardia  began 
to  play  the  flute,  the  clouds  dispersed  and  the  fore- 
head became  serene.  The  Queen  remained  behind 
the  King  for  a  moment  and  made  a  sign  to  Guarini. 
The  Jesuit  had  only  time  to  whisper  : 

'  Poea  roba — Sulkowski.' 

The  Queen  hastened  her  pace  and  reached  her 
chair  beside  that  of  the  King.  The  orchestra  struck 
up  an  overture  and  the  King  listened  to  it  with 
great  attention . 


254  Count  Briihl 

During  the  concert  it  was  evident  that  the  Queen  was 
thinking  about  something  more  important  than  the 
music.  Pisendel  in  vain  did  his  best,  the  Queen  did 
not  seem  to  hear  him.  Briihl's  wife  was  also  present 
at  the  concert ;  she  was  sitting  beside  her  mother ; 
the  minister  stood  behind  the  King  and  looked  as 
modest  as  if  he  were  not  prime  minister  and  also  the 
only  minister. 

Padre  Guarini  passing  by  him,  whispered  : 

^  The  iwar  has  begun,  the  enemy  defends  himself, 
we  must  concentrate  all  our  forces,  be  on  your  guard.' 

Briihl  stood  quiet  as  though  he  had  not  heard 
anything.  Buffardia  and  Quanz  played  a  duet.  The 
King  closed  his  eyes  and  enjoyed  the  music.  Anyone 
seeing  the  scornful  looks  of  Briihl's  wife  directed  at 
the  King,  would  have  been  surprised  and  frightened 
at  the  contempt  writh  which  she  dared  to  look  at  him. 

Behind  her  chair  stood  the  minister's  retinue  who 
were  admitted  to  the  concert,  and  among  them  might 
have  been  seen  a  young  man  looking  so  much  like 
Watzdorf  that  he  might  have  been  taken  for  his  ghost. 
Frau  Briihl's  eyes  often  wandered  in  that  direction, 
rested  on  the  beautiful  face  of  the  youth  and  tried  to 
meet  his  eyes  ;  their  glance  met  and  the  youth  blushed. 

After  the  concert  supper  was  announced,  vrith  a 
separate  table  for  their  Majesties.  The  King  had 
such  a  famous  appetite  that  he  seemed  to  forget  about 
everything  else  :  but  after  supper  he  asked  Briihl  to 
follow  him  to  his  apartment. 

The  greater  part  of  the  court  dispersed  ;  the  ladies 
remained  for  evening  prayers,  for  there  was  a  custom 
that  on  certain  days  they  recited  prayers  conducted 
by  Father  Guarini. 

That  day  the  spiritual  exercitia  took  place  in  the 
Queen's  little  chapel  and  then  only  was  the  rest  of  the 
court  dismissed 


Count   Briihl  255 

Guarini  was  also  going  when  the  Queen  called 
him. 

'  Father,  how  was  it  ?     The  King — ' 

*  Began  to  talk  about  Sulkowski  of  his  own  accord. 
He  is  very  sorry  that  there  are  people  who  are  against 
Sulkowski.  As  I  was  asked  I  could  not  be  silent  and 
I  began  the  war.' 

*  But  what  ?  what  ?  '  the  Queen  asked  inquisitively. 
'  I  said  as  much  as  I  could]  without  wearying  the 

King,'  said  Guarini.     *  I  told  him  everything  I  had 
in  my  heart.' 

'  And  the  King  ?  ' 

*He  listened  in  silence.' 

*  Do  you  think  it  will  make  any  impression  on 
him?' 

*  Undoubtedly,  but  we  must  repeat  the  attacks. 
Sulkowski  will  return,  we  must  press  the  matter,  he 
must  find  the  King  cool ;  otherwise  the  old  friendship 
would  assert  itself,  he  would  take  his  old  place  and 
nobody  would  be  able  to  move  him  from  it.  We  must 
not  ask  too  much  ;  we  cannot  ask  to  be  allowed  to  act 
with  him  as  with  Hoym.  One  cannot  prove  much 
against  him.     It  would  do  if  he  were  dismissed.' 

'  But  you  know  how  fond  the  King  is  of  him,'  said 
the  Queen,  '  would  he  not  take  advantage  of  that  ? 
A  godless  man  as  he  is  would  be  ready  to  use  any 
means.  Did  you  ever  see  him  in  a  church  ?  And 
you  know  that  he  never  observes  Lent.' 

The  Queen  shivered  and  became  silent  for  a  moment. 

*  I  shall  not  give  in,'  she  added,  '  you  must  act  also. 
Briihl  cannot.' 

*  I  will  act,  only  at  the  last  moment,'  said  Guarini, 
*  and  very  carefully.  For  good  work  one  must  use  all 
possible  means.  God  will  help  us.  When  does  he 
return  ? ' 

*  His  wife  expects  him  every  day  ;  he  wrote  to  the 


256  Count  Briihl 

King  that  he  would  be  back  this  week.  We  must 
hasten/  said  the  Queen. 

Guarini  bowed  humbly  and  went  out. 

The  next  day  in  the  morning,  Briihl  was  in  the 
King's  room.  His  duties  were  not  fatiguing  but 
tiresome.  Usually  Augustus  was  silent ;  one  was 
obliged  to  stand  looking  at  him  and  to  bow  when  he 
smiled  or  cleared  his  throat. 

Briihl  had  additional  trouble  ini watching  the  King 
80  closely  that  no  one  could  unexpectedly  approach 
him. ;  at  all  audiences,  without  any  exception,  Briihl 
was  present.  If  the  King  was  going  to  Mass  the 
way  was  cleared  of  all  persons  who  did  not  belong  to 
the  court.  Nobody  could  approach  him  without  the 
minister's  permission  or  in  his  absence.  It  seemed  that 
Augustus  III,  who  above  all  things  was  fond  of  quiet 
and  afraid  of  surprises,  was  glad  of  this,  for  he  never 
tried  to  get  free  and  was  grateful  to  his  guardians. 

After  the  Mass  and  audiences,  during  which  the 
silent  King  did  not  waste  many  words,  Briihl  remained 
with  him  alone. 

He  could  guess  that  the  King  wished  to  converse 
about  something,  for  he  walked  uneasily  about, 
stopped  opposite  him,  blinked  his  eyes,  smiled  sadly, 
but  could  not  begin  the  conversation.  At  length  he 
stopped,  put  his  hands  on  the  minister's  shoulders 
and  asked  : 

'  Briihl,  what  do  you  think  of  Sulkowski  ?  ' 

Although  Briihl  was  prepared,  he  could  not  answer 
at  once  and  dropped  his  eyes. 

'  Sire,'  he  answered,  *  I  am  sure  I  think  the  same  as 
your  Majesty.' 

*  And  do  you  know  what  I  think  of  him  ?  ' 

*I  do  not  know,  but  I  am  my  lord's  faithful 
servant  and  thus  I  retain  those  whom  he  likes  as 
friends,  and  as  foes  those  whom  the  King  dislikes.' 


Count   Briihl  257 

The  King's  face  brightened. 

'  Briihl !  I  love  you  ! '  he  exclaimed. 

The  minister  bent  to  kiss  his  lord's  hand. 

'  Briihl,  I  love  you  very  much/  added  Augustus, 
*and  that  is  why  I  ask  your  advice.  Listen,  they 
frighten  me  about  him ' 

He  looked  into  Briihl's  eyes  solemnly. 

'  Speak  frankly ' 

*  I  have  nothing  against  Sulkowski,  but  my  lord's 
favour,  which  makes  me  humble,  arouses  great  pride 
in  him  ;  it  may  be  that  he  boasted  that  he  can  do 
anything,  not  only  in  the  state  affairs,  but  also  with 
your  Majesty.' 

'  H'm  !  You  say  it  may  be  !  Yes,  it  may  be  ! ' 
said  the  King.  '  Between  ourselves,  he  knows 
nothing  of  music,  and  doe^  not  understand  much 
about  pictures  :  he  is  satisfied  when  the  subject  is 
nude  1  What  a  Venus  he  brought  here  once,  and 
what  trouble  I  had  with  the  Queen  about  it !  She 
ordered  the  picture  to  be  burnt.  Well,  it  is  true 
also,  that  he  takes  too  many  liberties ' 

Augustus  III,  not  finishing  his  sentence,  looked 
out  of  the  window,  became  dreamy  and  yawned. 

*  What  do  you  think,'  he  asked  '  is  it  an  authentic 
Ribera,  sent  yesterday  from  Venice  ?  ' 

Briihl  shrugged  his  shoulders. 

'  I  am  of  your  Majesty's  opinion.' 

'  It  might  be  Ribera.' 

'  Yes,  it  might  be  Ribera,'  Briihl  repeated. 

'  But  it  might  be  il  Erote * 

*  There  is  no  doubt  that  it  looks  like  Frate ' 

*  Briihl,  you  are  an  expert.' 

'  I  learn  from  your  Majesty.' 

Augustus  well-satisfied  came  to  Briihl  and 
whispered  to  him. 

''The   Queen  wishes  me  to  send   him  away^  for 


258  Count  Briihl 

somebody  told  her  that  he  induced  me  to  have  some 
amours — ' 

'  Nobody  could  suspect  your  Majesty  of  that !  ' 
cried  Briihl.     *  Everybody  knows  your  virtuous  life.' 

'  I  shall  never  give  cause  to  be  suspected,* 
the  King  whispered.     '  Never,  never  !     I  prefer ' 

He  could  not  finish.     Briihl  whispered. 

*  Nobody,  not  a  soul  could  suspect  your  Majesty.' 
'It  n?ust  be  so,'  whispered   Augustus.     '  Do  you 

think  that  he  knows  something?  Does  he  suspect 
me?     He?' 

*  I  am  sure  he  does  not  know  anything  yet,  but  if 
he  is  here  continually,  spying — he  could — who  could 
foresee- ' 

The  King,  alarmed,  drew  himself  up. 

*  If  it  is  so,  then  I  must  dismiss  him  :  yes,  yes,  it 
will  be  better.     You  shall  take  his  place  with  me.' 

Briihl  again  kissed  his  lord's  hand.  Augustus 
was  still  sad,  he  sighed,  his  eyes  filled  with  tears — 
it  distressed  him  to  part  with  his  friend. 

'  Briihl,'  said  he,  *  it  is  decided  ;  the  Queen  wishes 
it  to  be  so,  Guarini  advises  it,  you  have  nothing 
against  it ;  but  tell  me,  how  can  it  be  done  ? 
How  ? ' 

The  minister  drooped  his  head  and  assumed  an 
embarrassed  mien.  The  King  looked  at  him  await- 
ing his  decision. 

*Your  Majesty,'  said  Briihl  raising  his  head, 
'there  are  good  reasons  for  disgrace,  but  I  would 
not  advise  you  to  be  severe  with  him  ;  it  will  suffice 
to  dismiss  him,  and  not  to  let  him  see  his  lord's 
face.  Banishment  from  the  court  is  the  worst  of 
punishments.' 

*  Yes,'  the  King  muttered,  '  but  I  shall  leave  him 
a  small  pension.' 

-    Ha  looked  at  Briihl  who  nodded  in  the  affirmative. 


Count   Briihl  259 

'  *  Then  banishment/  Augustus  added,  '  and  I  leave 
the  execution  of  it  to  you.  Do  what  you  please,  but 
save  me  any  annoyance.     Let  him  go ' 

Augustus  having  shunted  his  trouble  on  to  some- 
body else's  shoulders,  was  already  serene  again. 

'Briihl,'  he  said,  'announce  to  the  Queen  that  I 
should  like  to  see  her ;  the  Queen  either  prays  or 
paints  ;  if  she  paints  I  can  see  her.' 

Briihl  went  out ;  five  minutes  later,  the  King,  pre- 
ceded by  a  chamberlain,  went  to  his  consort's  apart- 
ments. He  found  her  painting.  A  young  artist 
stood  respectfully  behind  her.  The  august  artist 
was  painting  a  head  of  Christ.  The  fact  was  that 
very  little  was  done  by  her,  for  the  artist,  when  the 
Queen  was  absent,  corrected  and  improved  that 
which  was  badly  done  ;  but  the  next  day  the  Queen 
thought  it  was  her  own  work  and  was  satisfied  with 
herself.  That  way  the  picture  progressed  ;  when  it 
was  finished  it  was  said  that  it  was  painted  by  the 
Queen  and  the  court  admired  her  talent. 

When  the  King  entered,  the  Queen  did  not  rise, 
but  pointed  at  the  work.  Augustus  stood  behind 
her  and  admired  the  picture,  which  having  been 
recently  improved  by  the  artist  was  not  at  all  bad. 
The  King,  having  complimented  the  Queen,  made  a 
sign  to  the  artist  to  retire  for  a  time  into  the  next  room, 
which  he  did  as  quickly  as  he  could,  bowing  humbly. 

Augustus  III  bent  to  the  Queen's  ear  and  said  : 

*  It  shall  be  as  you  wish ;  we  shall  dismiss 
Sulkowski ;  I  came  to  tell  you  this.' 

The  Queen  turned  quickly  and  smiled  at  the  King. 

'  But  not  a  word  !  '  said  the  King.  '  Briihl  will 
arrange  the  matter,  I  do  not  wish  to  trouble  myself 
about  it.' 

'  You  do  not  need  to,'  said  the  Queen.  *  Guarini 
and  Briihl  will  do  everything.' 


260  Count  Briihl 

Tlie  King  did  not  wisli  to  prolong  the  subject  and 
began  to  talk  about  the  picture. 

*I  congratulate  you  on  your  colouring,'  lie  said, 
*  tres  fin,  and  very  fresh.  Listarde  could  not  paint 
a  better  pastel ;  you  paint  beautifully — only  do  not 
permit  that  artist  to  spoil  your  work  and  do  not 
follow  any  advice/ 

'He  only  sharpens  my  pencils,'  said  the  Queen. 

'  Beautiful  head  !  I  shall  hang  it  in  my  room 
if  you  will  make  me  a  present  of  it,'  and  he  smiled. 

As  the  dinner  hour  had  not  yet  arrived,  the  King 
bowed,  kissed  the  Queen's  hand  and  went  to  his 
apartment ;  on  his  way  he  nodded  to  the  artist  to 
go  and  help  the  Queen  with  her  artistic  effort. 

The  King's  face  beamed  with  satisfaction  now 
that  he  had  got  rid  of  his  trouble.  To-day  he  was 
altogether  a  different  man  from  yesterday  ;  his  fore- 
head was  serene,  there  was  a  smile  on  his  lips,  he 
breathed  more  freely  and  could  think  of  something 
else.  He  cared  less  for  Sulkowski  than  for  his 
disturbed  peace  and  few  unpleasant  days.  He  was 
ready  to  sacrifice  a  man  in  order  to  get  rid  as  soon 
as  possible  of  any  difficulty  in  his  own  life. 

Briihl  was  waiting  in  the  King's  apartment.  The 
King,  having  glanced  at  him,  laughed  and  said  : 

'  The  affair  is  finished  :  after  dinner  shooting  at  a 
target,  in  the  evening  a  concert,  to-morrow  an  opera.' 

He  drew  near  the  minister  and  added : 

'  Nobody  must  mention  his  name  ;  all  is  over.' 

He  thought  for  a  moment. 

'  Employ  anybody  you  wish,  provided  I  do  not 
know  anything  more  about  the  affair.' 

He  became  thoughtful  and  ended  with  : 

'  Listen  Briihl,  it  is  Ribera — ' 

'Yes,  your  Majesty,  it  is  Ribera,'  affirmed  the 
minister. 


CHAPTER  XVIII 

The  carnival  promised  to  be  brilliant  that  year.  In 
Saxony  everything  was  satisfactory;  tie  noblemen,  who 
dared  murmur,  were  sent  to  Pleissenburg  ;  in  Poland 
quiet  was  assured  by  the  last  Sobieski.  Faustina 
always  sang  marvellously,  and  there  was  plenty  of 
game  in  the  forests  round  Hubertsburg.  Day  after 
day,  arranged  in  advance,  passed  very  pleasantly. 

The  blessed  peacefulness  was  disturbed  by  the 
news  that  Sulkowski  was  returning ;  it  hastened 
the  Queen's  attack  and  sealed  his  sentence.  It  was 
not  expected  that  the  favourite  would  be  admitted 
to  see  the  King. 

Henniche  and  his  accomplices  gave  orders  that 
all  roads  w»re  to  be  watched  ;  the  guards  were  at  the 
gates,  private  detectives  watched  Sulkowski's  palace. 

The  general-minister's  carriage  came.  His  wife 
had  intended  to  go  towards  Prague  and  meet  him, 
but  they  were  afraid  of  that,  and  the  Countess 
Kolow'rath  told  her  that  the  Queen  desired  her  to 
be  in  readiness  in  case  she  was  called  to  the  castle, 
and  that  she  must  not  leave  Dresden.  The  Countess 
was  obliged  to  obey. 

On  the  first  of  February,  1738,  the  Count 
Sulkowski  arrived  at  Pirma,  where  he  stopped  to 
feed  and  water  the  horses  before  proceeding  to 
Dresden.  In  the  inn  a  courier  sent  on  ahead 
prepared  everything  for  the  minister's  reception. 
Nobody  yet  cotdd  even  suspect  his  downfall.  The 
whole  borough,  the  officials,  burgomasters,  in  gala 
uniforms,  were  awaiting,  notwithstanding  the  intense 
cold,  the  man  whom  they  thought  to  be  almighty 
and  before  whom  all  trembled. 


262  Count  Briihl 

The  courier  announced  the  arrival  of  his  Excellency 
for  four  o'clock  ;  but  as  that  day  there  was  a  heavy 
fall  of  snow,  he  did  not  arrive  at  the  appointed  hour. 
While  all  eyes  were  looking  down  the  road  in  the 
direction  of  Prague,  a  cavalier  wrapped  in  a  mantle 
came  from  the  direction  of  Dresden  and  stopped 
his  tired  horse  before  the  inn.  The  owner  of  the 
inn  called  'The  Crown,'  Jonas  Render,  a  very 
resolute  man,  having  perceived  the  stranger,  who 
at  any  other  time  would  have  been  very  welcome, 
rushed  to  tell  him  that  there  was  no  room  for  him. 

'  Excuse  me,  sir — we  expect  his  Excellency  the 
Count  Sulkowski  -^  I  have  no  room  either  for  you  or 
your  horse ;  but  at  the  '  Palm  Branch,'  an  inn  kept 
by  my  brother-in-law,  the  accommodation  is  not  bad.' 
The  stranger  hardly  listened  to  Jonas.  He  threw 
the  reins  on  the  horse's  neck  and  looked  towards 
the  inn.  He  was  a  middle-aged  man,  as  one  could 
judge  by  the  wrinkles  round  his  eyes,  for  the  rest 
of  his  face — it  must  have  been  done  on  account  of 
the  cold — was  wrapped  in  a  shawl  and  his  cap 
was  drawn  over  his  eyes. 

'  Exactly,'  he  muttered,  *  because  his  Excellency  is 
going  to  stay  here,  I  must  find  a  room,  because  I  am 
sent  to  him.' 

The  innkeeper  bowed  and  took  hold  of  the  horse. 
'  That  alters  the  case,'  he  said,  '  pray  come  in  and 
warm  yourself.  Hot  wine  with  spices  is  ready,  and 
there  is  nothing  better  than  gliikicein  for  the  cold. 
The  horse  shall  be  taken  to  the  stable.' 
.  A  groom  took  the  tired  grey  horse.  The  inn- 
keeper conducted  the  stranger  to  a  room ;  he  looked 
at  him  in  order  to  guess  who  he  was,  but  he  failed  to 
do  so  either  by  his  dress,  or  his  mien.  The  dress 
was  an  ordinary  one,  the  speech  pure  ])ut  not  Saxon  ; 
his  manner  full  of  assurance  betrayed  a  courtier,  but 


Count  Briihl  263 

not  one  of  great  importance,  since  he  came  on  horse- 
back without  a  servant  and  he  wore  jack-boots. 

For  such  a  great  lord  as  Sulkowski,  every  room 
was  engaged,  as  his  retinue  was  large ;  there  remained 
only  the  innkeeper's  room,  into  which  the  stranger 
was  shown. 

The  room  was  clean  and  bright  and  a  good  fire  was 
burning  in  the  fireplace.  Hender  helped  the  stranger 
to  take  off  his  large  mantle  and  the  shawl,  from  under 
which  there  appeared  the  thin,  bony  face  of  an  official. 
His  eyes  were  piercing  and  his  mouth  twitched. 

Hender  looked  at  him,  and  as  he  was  very  shrewd 
at  reading  character,  he  said  to  himself : 

*  He  is  a  dangerous  man.' 

But  it  was  necessary  to  be  overwhelmingly  polite  to 
such  a  dangerous-looking  messenger  from  the  capital. 
Therefore  he  placed  a  chair  near  the  fireplace  and 
asked  the  stranger,  who  received  all  civilities  very 
indifferently,  to  sit  down.  Several  times  when  the  host 
ventured  some  remark  he  received  no  answer.  He 
brought  a  glass  of  hot  wine  and  handed  it  to  the  travel- 
ler, who  accepted  it,  but  did  not  even  thank  him  for  it. 

*  This  must  be  a  man  of  some  importance,'  said 
Hender  to  himself. 

He  became  even  more  civil,  and  told  his  two 
children  to  keep  away ;  at  that  moment  a  trumpet 
resounded,  Sulkowski  was  coming.  The  innkeeper 
rushed  out  to  receive  him. 

The  stranger  remained  motionless,  deep  in  thought. 
The  minister  was  brought  triumphantly  to  the  room 
assigned  to  him ;  the  servants  brought  the  boxes, 
Hender  returned  to  his  room  and  found  the  stranger 
sitting  before  the  fire  and  drinking  the  wine.  He 
did  not  appear  to  hear  the  host,  who  felt  it  his  duty 
to  say  doud  : 

'  His  Excellency  has  arrived  !  * 


264  Count   Bruhl 

The  guest  made  a  grimace ;  he  finished  his  wine, 
shook  Jiis  head,  took  his  cap  and  went  out. 

Had  Jonas  Hender  been  acquainted  with  Dresden 
and  had  to  do  with  higher  officials,  he  would  have 
recognised  in  his  guest,  Ludovici. 

The  councillor  slowly  opened  the  door  and  entered 
the  room  in  which  Sulkowski  was  resting. 

The  table  was  set,  the  servants  were  busy,  a  young 
aide-de-camp  stood  in  the  window,  Sulkowski  was 
lying  on  the  sofa. 

When  he  perceived  Ludovici, 'he  sprang  up,  beam- 
ing with  joy. 

'  It  is  you  !  '  he  exclaimed.  '  How  good  of  you  to 
come  to  meet  me !  I  am  very  grateful  to  you,  for 
I  shall  get  some  news ;  the  last  letters  were  very 
insignificant.     How  are  you  ?  ' 

The  councillor's  face  was  not  indicative  of  good 
news.  He  was  silent  and  looked  askance  at  the 
aide-de-camp.  Sulkowski  passed  to  the  other  room 
and  nodded  to  Ludovici  to  follow  him.  He  was 
surprised  at  the  councillor's  long  face.  The  Count 
was  in  an  excellent  humour.  On  the  Ehine  and  in 
Hungary  he  had  been  well  received,  thanks  to  letters 
of  introduction  and  to  his  position.  He  returned 
happy  and  still  more  proud,  with  a  greater  supply 
of  self-assurance  than  ever. 

No  sooner  had  they  entered  the  room  than  the 
Count  begun  to  ask  questions,  to  which  th?  answers 
were  scanty,  Ludovici  seeming  to  lack  courage  to  speak- 
He  looked  sadly  at  the  Count's  joy,  which  he  was  about 
to  destroy  or  perchance  change  into  despair. 

He  let  the  Count  speak,  who  laughing  told  him  of 
his  success,  of  the  honours  with  which  he  Lad  been 
received,  of  the  experience  he  had  gained.  It  seemed 
that  he  thought  he  would  become  as  famous  as 
Maurice  de  Saxe. 


Count  Briihl  265 

Ludovici  looked  and  shook  his  head. 

'  What  is  the  matter  with  you?^  asked  Sulkowski. 
'  Are  you  cold  ?     Why  don't  you  speak  ?  ' 

Ludovici  glanced  round. 

'I  do  not  bring  good  news,'  he  said,  '  that  is  why 
I  do  not  hasten  to  talk.' 

*  Is  my  wife  well  ?  ' 

*  Yes,  thank  God.' 
'Is  the  King  well?' 
'Yes,  but— ' 

Ludovici  looked  at  the  Count  and  said  sadly  : 

'  But  you  will  find  him  changed.  A  great  many 
things  are  changed.     I  was  against  your  travelling.' 

'  What  has  happened  ?  '  said  Sulkowski  carelessly. 

'  The  worst  that  could  happen.  Your  enemies 
accused  you  ;  the  Queen  is  at  their  head,  then  Guarini, 
and  the  cunning  Briihl.     We  are  lost.' 

Sulkowski  looked  at  him  as  at  a  madman,  shrugged 
his  shoulders  and  laughed. 

*  You  must  be  dreaming.' 

'I  should  like  to  dream,'  said  Ludovici  gloomily. 
*  There  is  no  time  for  illusions,  we  must  try  to  save 
ourselves,  if  there  is  still  time  for  that.  I  came, 
risking  my  life,  to  warn  you.  The  gates  are  guarded, 
the  houses  are  surrounded  by  spies  :  if  you  come  to 
Dresden,  so  that  they  recognise  you  at  the  gate,  they 
will  not  admit  you  to  the  King  ;  such  are  the  orders.' 

'  But  it  cannot  be,'  the  Count  cried  passionately. 
'  It  is  a  stupid  hoax,  someone  has  told  the  King  some 
nonsense,  and  you  believed  it.  There  is  no  man  in 
this  world  who  could  take  the  King's  heart  from  me. 
It  is  impossible,  it  is  a  lie  !  I  laugh  at  it !  They 
would  dare  not  to  admit  me  to  the  King  ?  Ludovici, 
you  have  lost  your  senses — ' 

Ludovici  looked  at  the  minister  with  a  kind  of 
commiseration. 


266  Count   Briihl 

Sulkowski  walked  to  and  fro,  laughing  to  himself. 

*  Where  did  you  get  that  stupid  gossip  from  ? ' 
asked  he. 

'  From  the  best  source.  I  gave  my  word  that  I  would 
not  reveal  the  name  of  the  person  who  told  me  and 
ordered  me  to  warn  you.     That  which  I  say  is  true.' 

'  But  how  could  it  come  to  that  ?  '  asked  Sulkowski 
a  little  alarmed. 

*  The  King  is  weak/  said  Ludovici,  '  the  Queen 
is  a  stubborn  woman,  Father  Guarini  is  the  most 
cunning  of  men,  and  Briihl  is  master  of  the  art  of 
using  other  people  to  achieve  his  aims.  Your 
Excellency  never  tried  to  hide  his  aversion  to  priests, 
and  such  is  the  result  of  their  work.  Everything  is 
arranged.  They  forced  your  dismissal  upon  the 
King.  You  will  be  banished  from  the  court  with  a 
small  pension,  so  that  you  will  not  hinder  Briihl  from 
making  millions.  They  are  afraid  of  your  influence 
over  the  King  and  they  will  not  permit  you  to  see  him.* 

Sulkowski  frowned. 

'  Are  you  sure  of  it  ? '  he  asked. 

'  Very  sure !  the  guards  at  the  gate  have  orders 
not  to  let  you  in  ;  the  castle  is  also  guarded.' 

'  And  the  King  does  not  even  wish  to  see  me ! ' 
burst  out  Sulkowski. 

'The  King  is  a  slave,'  said  Ludovici. 

Sulkowski  relapsed  into  thought. 

*  If  you  intend  to  go  with  all  your  retinue  to 
Dresden,'  Ludovici  continued,  '  you  will  fall  into 
their  hands.  H  there  is  any  means  you  could  use  to 
see  the  King,  don't  hesitate  to  act.  You  have  some 
influence,  take  advantage  of  it,  but  it  will  be  a  fight 
for  life  or  death,  with  the  Queen,  confessor  and  Briihl.' 

Sulkowski  paced  to  and  fro,  frowning,  then  he 
asked  : 

'  Are  you  sure  of  what  you  say  ?  ' 


Count  Briihl  267 

'As  I  live; 

'  Then  be  it  so,  but — I  am  not  afraid  of  them  ;  they 
cannot  crush  me  as  they  did  Hoym  and  the  rest.  We 
shall  see.  Let  us  now  have  something  to  eat.  I  shall 
leave  my  retinue  here  and  we  shall  go  to  Dresden  on 
horseback.  I  should  like  to  know  who  would  dare  to 
bar  my  access  to  the  King  to-morrow.  We  shall  see  ! 
Can  we  not  reach  town  without  being  recognised? 

'  We  must ! '  answered  Ludovici. 

'  Come  then  and  let  us  eat  well,  that  they  may  not 
guess  anything  here.' 

Having  said  this  he  returned  to  the  other  room  in 
which  the  meal  was  ready.  They  spoke  very  little 
and  only  of  extraneous  matters  as  they  eat.  Ludovici 
had  a  very  good  appetite,  while  Sulkowski  seemed 
only  to  be  thirsty,  he  drank  so  much. 

The  Count  said  to  his  aide-de-camp  : 

*  Count,  you  and  the  horses  are  tired ;  stay  over  night 
at  Pirma.  I  wish  to  take  my  wife  by  surprise  and  go 
to  Dresden  on  horseback  with  the  Councillor  Ludovici.' 

The  aide-de-camp  seemed  to  be  very  much  sur- 
prised, for  Sulkowski  was  fond  of  travelling  in 
comfort,  with  much  pomp  and  ceremony :  such  an 
incognito  during  bad  weather,  on  the  road  covered  with 
snow,  in  the  night,  seemed  very  strange.  Sulkowski 
noticing  his  astonishment  said  with  a  smile : 

'  There  is  nothing  extraordinary  in  my  project, 
sometimes  one  must  satisfy  a  fancy  although  one  is 
not  very  young.' 

Having  said  this,  he  took  his  aide-de-camp  aside 
and  gave  him  secret  orders. 

The  aide-de-camp  left  the  room  at  once. 

Sulkowski  stood  silent  and  pensive. 

Soon  two  saddled  horses  stood  at  the  door  of  the 
inn;  the  minister  was  advised  at  least  to  take  a 
groom,  but  he  refused.     The  journey  for  Ludovici, 


268  Count   BrUhl 

who  had  already  made  it  coming  from  Dresden  and 
who  was  not  accustomed  to  riding  on  horseback,  was 
more  painful  than  for  the  Count;  but  he  did  not 
wish  to  let  him  go  alone. 

Fortunately  for  both  of  them  the  weather  improved, 
the  snow  ceased  to  fall.  The  horses  were  accustomed 
to  the  road  on  which  they  travelled  often  and 
followed  the  highway.  The  sun  was  setting,  they 
pushed  on  at  a  smart  trot,  the  Count  ahead,  the 
councillor  behind  him,  both  silent. 

They  quickly  passed  villages,  houses  and  inns. 
The  night  was  quite  dark  and  the  numerous  lights 
in  the  distance  presently  announced  that  they  were 
approaching  Dresden.  Here  the  road  was  less  lonely. 
Several  sledges  passed,  men  on  horseback  and 
pedestrians.  Against  the  bright  sky  could  be  seen 
the  dark  towers  of  the  churches. 

Sulkowski  slackened  the  speed  of  his  horse  until 
Ludovici  came  up  with  him. 

'  If  they  guard  the  gate,'  he  said,  '  we  must  use 
some  precautions.' 

'  Your  Excellency  will  wrap  himself  in  the  cloak  and 
will  follow  me.  It  is  true  that  they  guard  the  gates, 
but  they  look  for  the  equipages  and  retinue  with 
which  they  expect  you.' 

*  You  said  that  they  watch  my  house  also  ?  ' 

'  Yes,'  Ludovici  answered. 

'  I  must  go  there  on  foot  and  enter  without  being 
noticed.' 

'  I  would  not  advise  you  to  do  that,'  said  Ludovici, 
'  in  our  times  one  cannot  be  sure  of  the  servants,  some 
of  them  might  betray  us.' 

Sulkowski  laughed  bitterly. 

'  It  is  very  amusing,'  he  said,  '  who  could  have 
told  me  this  morning  that  I  should  not  be  able  to 
pass  the  night  in  safety  in  Dresden  ?  ' 


Count   Briihl  21)9 

He  shrugged  his  shoulders. 

'  If  my  position  is  so  dangerous,'  he  said  proudly, 
after  a  while,  *  then  I  do  not  wish  to  expose  any  one 
else.  Take  care  of  the  horses,  and  I  shall  find  a  place 
to  pass  the  night,  and  then  do  what  I  have  to  do.' 

Thus  saying  he  turned  his  horse,  covered  his  face 
with  the  mantle,  let  Ludovici  pass  in  front,  bent  to 
the    saddle,    and    having    assumed  the    mien   of   a 
groom,  following  his  master,  followed  the  councillor. 
They  approached   the   gate.     In   very   truth   the 
guards  were  there,  but  Ludovici   gave  them  some 
name   and  as  they  did  not  pay  much  attention   to 
two  men  on  horseback  they  entered  the  town. 
A  soldier  rushed  after  Ludovici. 
'  Do  you  come  from  Pirma  ? ' 
'  Yes,'  answered  Ludovici. 

'  Did  you  hear  anything  of  the  Count  Sulkowski, 
who  is  expected  to-day  ?  ' 

*  The  inn  called  the  Crown,'  said  Ludovici,  'was 
engaged  for  his  Excellency,  but  a  courier  came  to 
say  that  he  would  not  be  leaving  Prague  for  two  days.' 
The  soldiers  returned,  glad  that  they  would  not 
be  obliged  to  watch  very  closely  during  the  night 
and  the  Count  with  the  councillor  proceeded. 

In  the  town  there  was  still  much  stir  as  was  usual 
during  the  carnival.  Sulkowski  dismounted  near 
the  post  office,  gave  the  horse  to  Ludovici,  and 
went  towards  his  palace. 

He  no  longer  doubted  that  what  Ludovici  had  lately 
told  him  was  true,  and  tried  to  enter  his  house 
unperceived.  Even  he  hesitated  whether  it  would 
not  be  better  to  pass  the  night  elsewhere ;  but  his 
pride  prevented  him  from  hiding  like  a  culprit.  The 
question  was  how  to  enter  unnoticed  by  servants 
whom  he  distrusted.  Not  being  accustomed  to 
subterfuges  he  did  not  know  how  to  act. 


270  Count  Briihl 

A  strange  feeling  was  aroused  in  him  at  the  sight 
of  the  people,  many  of  whom  he  recognised,  of 
passing  carriages,  of  all  that  merry  carnival 
movement.  Smaller  officials  passed  him  without 
recognition  of  the  man  wrapped  in  the  mantle; 
before  whom,  not  long  since,  they  almost  kneeled. 
His  situation  seemed  to  him  like  a  dream,  the 
danger  a  nightmare.  He  was  angry  that  he  could 
have  believed  it.  He  measured  the  position  he 
occupied  with  the  menace  of  downfall,  and  could 
not  imagine  it  possible. 

Under  the  influence  of  these  thoughts  he  went 
more  boldly.  At  about  the  distance  of  a  furlong, 
he  noticed  several  dark  figures  walking  about  and 
apparently  awaiting  somone.  Those  figures,  hiding 
stealthily  in  corners,  were  the  best  proof  that  the 
house  was  watched.  Sulkowski  entered  a  side 
street,  uncertain  what  to  do.  At  that  moment  he 
recollected  a  man  whom  he  could  trust.  It  was 
Father  Vogler,  a  Jesuit,  the  King's  former  confessor, 
an  old  man,  who  apparently  left  the  court  of  his 
own  will,  giving  way  to  Father  Guarini. 

He  lived  quietly,  seldom  showing  himself  in  the 
court,  and  entirely  engrossed  in  his  books.  Formerly 
the  King's  favourite,  now  almost  forgotten,  for  he 
did  not  know  how  to  amuse  him.  Father  Vogler 
was  a  silent  retiring  man.  He  was  Sulkowski's 
chaplain  and  confessor  and  had  gained  his  esteem. 
Although  Vogler  apparently  lived  far  from  the 
intrigues  of  the  court,  even  Guarini  seemed  to  fear 
him  and  was  very  respectful  towards  him.  Vogler 
did  not  hide  his  dislike  of  Briihl  and  although  he 
said  little,  one  could  see  that  he  disliked  the  court 
and  everything  that  was  going  on  there.  Sulkowski 
remembered  that  Vogler  had  warned  him  before 
his   departure   that  he   should  not  stay  away  long,. 


Count  Briihl  271 

that  lie  should  not  be  too  confident  of  the  King's 
favour,  and  should  not  trust  those  who  were 
apparently  his  best  friends. 

If  anyone  was  well  informed  it  was  certainly 
Vogler.  The  Count,  being  obliged  to  steal  through 
the  old  market  and  a  much  populated  street  leading 
to  the  castle  in  which  the  Jesuit  lived,  wrapped  the 
cloak  very  carefully  around  him  and  walked  in 
the  shadow  of  the  houses  in  order  that  he  might 
not  be  recognised.  Carriages  were  going  towards 
the  castle  and  he  recognised  Briihl's  post-chaise 
and  smiled  bitterly.  The  street  scene  with  Erell 
led  by  on  a  donkey  recurred  to  his  mind,  and  it 
seemed  to  him  that  he  had  met  with  a  similar  fate 
to  that  of  the  editor. 

The  house,  in  which  Vogler  lived,  belonged  to 
the  castle,  and  the  entrance  to  it  was  from  a  small 
dark  street.  He  knew  that  Vogler  occupied  the 
second  floor.  He  passed  the  dark  stairs,  and  rang 
the  bell  at  the  door  which  he  found  with  difficulty 
in  the  darkness. 

He  waited  long.  A  small  boy  with  a  candle  in 
his  hand  opened  the  door. 

*  Is  Father  Vogler  at  home  ?  ' 

The  boy  looked  timidly  at  the  stranger  and 
hesitated  as  to  what  to  answer. 

'  I  wish  to  see  Father  Vogler  on  urgent  business,' 
he  said. 

The  boy  left  the  door  open  and  disappeared  into 
the  room.  He  returned  shortly  and  showed  the 
Count  into  a  small  room  full  of  books  and  book- 
shelves, and  a  large  table  on  which  was  an  abundant 
supply  of  papers.  A  reading  lamp  was  burning. 
From  an  old  chair,  upholstered  with  leather,  rose 
a  tall,  thin,  bent,  bald-headed  man.  He  seemed 
to  be  surprised  at  such  a  late  .call  and  turned  his 


272  Count   Briihl 

feeble  eye  on  the  visitor,  wliose  face  was  still  half 
covered  with  the  mantle.  Only  when  the  boy  closed 
the  door,  did  Sulkowski  uncover  his  face  and  head 
and  come  near  Father  Vogier,  who  seizing  him  by 
the  hand  cried  out  with  astonishment. 

'  Hsh ! '  cried  Sulkowski. 

Vogier  embraced  him  and  made  him  sit  down  on  a 
chair,  then  he  went  to  the  ante-room  and  gave  some 
orders  to  the  boy. 

The  Count  leaned  thoughtfully  on  the  table. 

*I  see/  said  the  Jesuit,  coming  back,  'that  you 
know  all,  although  nobody  here  knows  yet.  Has 
anybody  seen  you  ? ' 

*  I  came  here  straight  from  my  journey,*  answered 
the  Count.  *  In  Pirma  I  learned  about  the  plot,  and 
by  your  manner  I  see  that  it  is  true.  Is  it  true? 
Then  they  dread — ' 

Vogier  shrugged  his  shoulders. 

*Yes,  your  good  friends  await  you  with  this 
surprise,'  he  said  slowly,  '  they  will  not  admit  you  to 
the  King.' 

*  It  is  I  who  will  prepare  a  surprise  for  them  and 
see  the  King  notwithstanding  them  all,'  cried 
Sulkowski.  '  They  are  mistaken ;  the  King  under 
pressure  would  give  in  in  my  absence,  but  if  I  get  half 
an  hour's  conversation  with  him,  I  shall  regain  my 
influence  and  then — Then,'  cried  Sulkowski  rising 
and  clenching  his  fist,  *  it  will  not  be  I  that  will  be 
sent  away,  but  those  who  dared  to  intrigue  against  me.' 

He  became  silent. 
Vogier  wrung  his  hands. 

*  The  question  is  where  I  can  pass  the  night  and 
wait  till  to-morrow,  so  that  they  may  not  know  that  I 
have  arrived.  I  am  sure  that  they  will  not  give 
orders  that  I  am  not  to  be  admitted  to  the  court ;  by 
my  right  and  my  rank  I  have  free  access  to  the  King 


Count  Briihl  273 

at  any  hour.  At  eleven  o'clock  the  King  is  alone ; 
Briihl  is  not  with  him.' 

The  Jesuit  listened  attentively,  not  showing  what 
he  thought  of  the  Count's  plan. 

'You  have  nothing  to  lose,  you  must  try  to  win,' 
he  said. 

*  Will  you  have  the  courage  to  let  me  sleep  here  ? ' 
asked  Sulkowski  with  a  smile  of  doubt. 

*  You  are  welcome  ;  my  humble  dwelling  is  at  your 
service.     Yoa  are  safe  here,  for  nobody  calls  on  me.' 

Sulkowski's  eyes  shone. 

*If  I  am  able  to  see  the  King,  I  am  sure  of 
winning — ' 

*May  God  help  you,'  whispered  Vogler. 

The  next  morning  Briihl  heard  through  Henniche, 
that  Sulkowski  was  not  expected  to  arrive  for  two 
more  days.  In  the  court  the  whole  plot  had  been 
kept  in  great  secresy ;  the  Countess  Sulkowski,  whom 
the  Queen  alwaj^s  received  very  kindly  had  not  the 
slightest  suspicion.  The  King  was  in  an  excellent 
humour. 

Early  in  the  morning  Briihl  came  to  the  King  for 
his  orders,  and  having  left  Guarini  with  him,  returned 
to  his  palace.  Here  he  changed  his  clothes,  because 
the  etiquette  required  him  to  do  so  several .  times 
during  the  day,  and  ordered  his  porte-chaise  to  carry 
him  to  the  Countess  Moszynski.  He  now  felt  at  home 
in  her  house,  for  her  husband  had  died  a  few  months 
previously,  and  Briihl  was  certain  that  she  was  too 
much  in  love  with  him  to  marry  anybody  else.  His 
relations  of  tender  friendship  with  the  beautiful 
widow  were  no  secret.  Every  day  he  would  take 
counsel  with  her,  every  morning  the  Countess 
Moszynski  would  visit  him.  It  was  known  that  she 
did  what  she  pleased  with  him.  Very  often  when  they 
had  something  very  urgent  to  communicate  to  the 

8 


274  Count   Briihl 

minister,  for  he  did  nothing  without  her  advice, 
they  would  go  to  the  Countess  to  find  him  there. 

That  day  Briihl  also  went  to  her  house  as  though  it 
were  his  own.     The  Countess  on  seeing  him  said  : 

'  Has  Sulkowski  arrived  ?  ' 

'  Not  yet !  I  had  news  from  Pinna ;  they  do  not 
expect  him  for  two  days.' 

The  Countess  Moszynski  shook  her  head  with 
evident  dissatisfaction. 

*  It  is  not  natural,'  she  said,  '  it  is  suspicious.  His 
wife  told  me  that  at  the  latest  she  expected  him  last 
night.     Somebody  must  have  warned  him.' 

'  Impossible  !     Nobody  knows  ! ' 
The  Countess  laughed. 

*  Let  us  count  up  how  many  people  know  the 
secret,'  she  said,  counting  on  her  fingers.  '  The 
Queen,  the  Countess  Kolowrath,  the  King,  Guarini, 
you,  I,  and  to  be  sure,  your  wife.  If  she  was  not  told 
she  would  guess:  let  us  add  Henniche.  Have  you 
ever  heard  of  a  secret  being  kept  by  eight  persons  ?  ' 

Briihl  shook  his  head  carelessly. 

*  Even  if  he  had  learned,  it  would  not  help  him  at 
all.  The  Queen  wearied  the  King  so  much  about 
Sulkowski,  that  for  the  sake  of  his  beloved  peace  he 
must  give  him  up.' 

The  subject  of  conversation  was  soon  changed. 
Briihl,  however,  nothwithstanding  his  apparent  calm, 
was  thoughtful  and  gloomy.  Towards  noon,  just  as 
he  wa«  about  to  take  leave  of  the  Countess,  there  was 
a  rap  at  the  door,  and  Henniche  rushed  in. 

His  changed  face  and  hurried  entrance  into  the 
drawing-room  announced  bad  news.  The  Countess 
sprang  from  her  seat.     Briihl  ran  to  him. 

Henniche  could  not  speak. 

'Henniche,  what  is  the  matter?  Come  to  your 
senses  ! '  exclaimed  Briihl. 


Count   Briihl  275 

'  What  is  the  matter  with  me  ?  Sulkowski  has  been 
in  town  ever  since  last  night,  at  eleven  o'clock  he 
came  to  the  castle,  and  asking  no  permission,  entered 
the  King's  room.  Father  Guarini,  who  was  with  the 
King,  said  that  his  Majesty  became  white  as  marble. 
The  Count,  as  if  not  aware  of  anything  wrong,  greeted 
the  King  in  most  tender  words  and  kneeling  he  said 
that  his  first  step  was  to  fall  at  his  Majesty's  feet. 
The  King  became  tender  and  embraced  him.  The 
Count  began  to  talk  about  his  travels  and  made  the 
King  laugh — and  thus  he  resumed  his  former  duties. 
At  this  moment  Sulkowski  is  with  the  King  ;  every- 
body is  alarmed  in  the  castle :  the  Queen  weeps, 
Guarini  is  pale — everything  is  lost.' 

Briihl  and  the  Countess  looked  at  each  other. 

Briihl  did  not  appear  to  be  frightened  but  very 
much  annoyed. 

*  Henniche,  listen !  '  he  said,  '  Sulkowski  cannot 
remain  with  the  King  for  ever  ;  I  do  not  wish  to  meet 
him  ;  let  me  know  when  he  leaves  the  castle.  They 
watched  well  at  the  gates  and  fulfilled  my  orders 
nicely ! '  added  the  minister  drily. 

He  went  to  the  Countess,  kissed  her  hand,  whisper- 
ing a  few  words,  and  went  out  with  Henniche. 

The  scene  described  by  Henniche  was  very  interest- 
ing indeed.  A  ghost  would  not  have  been  more 
alarming  in  the  castle  than  the  sudden  appearance 
of  Sulkowski.  When  he  entered  the  King's  room. 
Augustus  HI  was  struck  dumb  with  surprise,  for  the 
things  he  most  disliked  were  reproaches  and  quarrels. 
Father  Guarini,  notwithstanding  his  usual  self-com- 
posure, could  not  conceal  his  confusion.  Sulkowski 
kneeling  greeted  the  King  with  apparent  joy,  telling 
him  how  happy  he  was  to  look  on  his  lord's  face  again. 
This  calmed  Augustus  a  little.  Guarini  noticed, 
liowever,  that  he  only  smiled,  but  said  not  a  word. 


276 


Count  Briihl 


The  Padre's  first  intention  was  to  remain  to  the  end 
of  the  interview,  but  later  on  it  occurred  to  his  mind, 
that  it  was  his  duty  to  communicate  the  incident  to 
the  Queen  in  order  that  some  precautions  might  be 
taken  at  once.  In  consequence,  having  listened  to 
Sulkowski's  narration  for  about  an  hour,  he  was 
obliged  to  leave  the  room.  Sulkowski  spoke  merrily 
and  quickly  as  though  in  a  fever.  Although  he  did 
not,  even  by  the  slightest  allusion,  let  it  be  known 
that  he  knew  what  was  going  to  happen  to  him,  one 
could  guess  by  his  agitation  and  daring  that  he  was 
playing  his  last  card.  The  King  glanced  round  as 
if  he  were  afraid  and  grew  more  and  more  stiff  :  one 
moment  his  face  grew  brighter,  the  next  it  became  cold. 

As  long  as  Father  Guarini  was  in  the  room,  the  Count 
confined  his  conversation  to  his  travels ;  when  Guarini 
left  the  room  he  changed  both  the  tone  and  subject. 

*  Your  Majesty,'  he  said,  '  I  was  longing  to  see  my 
liege :  I  had  a  sad  presentiment,  although  thank 
God,  it  is  not  realised,  and  your  Majesty's  heart  is 
the  best  guarantee  that  it  could  not  be  realised.  I 
have  served  my  lord  since  childhood,  I  sacrificed  my 
life  to  him,  and  I  am  ready  to  sacrifice  the  rest  of  my 
days  ;  I  was  able  to  gain  my  lord's  favour  and  confi- 
dence, my  conscience  does  not  reproach  me  with 
anything  ;  I  am  not  afraid  of  the  plots  of  my  enemies, 
even  if  I  had  any,  and  I  do  not  believe  I  have  them, 
for  I  have  done  no  harm  to  anybody.' 

The  King  listened  with  forced  dignity,  which  did 
not  promise  well. 

Sulkowski  asked  to  be  permitted  once  more  to  kiss 
the  King's  hand  ;  Augustus  gave  it  to  him  muttering, 
changing  uneasily  from  one  foot  to  the  other,  but  not 
saying  one  intelligible  word.  The  Count's  enthu- 
siasm increased  and  he  spoke  with  growing  fever. 

'  Sire,  my  lord,  I  believe  in  your  heart  as  I  believe 


Count  Briihl 


277 


in  God.     Only  may  tlie  intriguers  not  take  it  from 
me  by  their  calumnies  !  ' 

'  OL. !  Oh  ! '  interrupted  Augustus,  '  there  are  no 
intrigues  here.' 

*Into  what  court  are  they  not  able  to  penetrate? 
What  dress  must  they  assume  ? '  said  Sulkowski 
laughing.  ^  Sire,  I  am  a  soldier  and  I  speak  straight. 
There  are  bad  people  and  those  who  are  the  sweetest, 
the  most  humble,  the  most  useful,  they  are  the  most 
dangerous.  Sire,  and  my  lord,  I  do  not  wish  to  name 
the  others — but  Briihl  must  be  dismissed,  otherwise 
he  will  get  all  into  his  own  power  and  deprive  your 
Majesty  of  his  best  friends,  in  order  that  he  may  rule 
absolutely.' 

Thus  saying  he  looked  at  the  King's  face,  which 
became  crimson  and  then  pale,  his  eyes  assumed  a 
wild  expression,  the  result  of  suppressed  anger- 
Sulkowski,  knowing  well  that  it  was  necessary  to 
conquer  the  outburst  in  order  to  dominate  the 
monarch,  favoured  peace  above  all  things  ;  the  anger 
never  lasted  long.  Several  times  the  King  had  wished 
to  break  the  chain  of  dependence,  but  every  time  he 
had  shirked  the  effort  necessary  to  effect  it.  The 
Count  had  seen  him  several  times  in  that  state  of 
mind  and  became  still  bolder. 

*  Sire,'  he  said,  following  the  King,  who  went  to 
the  window,  *  your  Majesty  respects  the  memory  of 
his  great  father  ;  may  he  serve  as  an  example  !  He 
never  permitted  anyone  to  domineer  over  him,  neither 
the  Queen,  nor  favourites,  nor  ministers,  nor  priests. 
He  ruled  supreme.  Your  Majesty  has  only  to  wish, 
to  command,  and  those  who  murmur  will  become 
silent ;  the  chain  shall  be  broken.  One  must  have 
courage  to  live  and  to  rule,  and  for  that  one  must 
break  all  chains.' 

The    King    listened    but   grew   more    and    more 


278  Count   Briihl 

frightened  ;  lie  stopped  up  both  his  ears  and  instead 
of  answering  retreated  further  and  further  towards 
the  window. 

Sulkowski  having  gone  so  far  could  not  retreat, 
and  determined  to  strike  the  iron  while  it  was  hot. 

'  I  know,' he  said,  Hhat  I  attempt  a  great  thing, 
but  I  do  so  out  of  love  for  my  lord,  whom  I  wish  to 
see  as  great  and  as  happy  as  his  father  was.  Your 
Majesty  wishes  for  a  peaceful  life,  and  it  will  come 
as  soon  as  your  Majesty  asserts  his  authority.  Those 
tutors,  Guarini  and  Briihl,  must  be  sent  away.  The 
Queen  is  a  saint,  let  her  pray  for  us  and  edify  us 
by  her  virtues,  and  we,  sire,  shall  go  and  conquer 
Hungary,  for  the  Emperor  Karl  VI  will  not  live  long. 
Your  Majesty  will  breathe  more  freely  in  the  camp.* 

Sulkowski  laughed.  The  King  looked  sullenly 
about  him :  not  a  movement,  not  a  word  betrayed  his 
thoughts. 

He  was  evidently  tired. 

Happily  a  movement  in  the  corridor  announced  the 
dinner.  Augustus  made  a  movement  as  if  he  wished 
to  go.  Sulkowski  seized  his  hand  and  kissed  it. 
The  King  blushed.  At  that  moment  the  Grand 
Marshall  of  the  court  entered  and  perceived  Sulkowski  - 
taking  leave  of  the  King  in  such  a  tender  way,  that 
he  did  not  doubt  that  the  Count  had  returned  to  his 
former  favour. 

Unfortunately  the  last  part  of  that  conversation  was 
overheard  by  the  Queen  and  Guarini,  who  stood  at 
the  door. 

Sulkowski  went  out,  assured  that  he  would  be  able 
to  change  everything  and  that  no  danger  threatened 
him.  He  greeted  the  courtiers  and  officials  whom 
he  met  in  the  castle  with  his  former  pride,  and  after 
a  short  conversation  with  them,  he  ordered  a  porte- 
chaise  to  be  brous^ht  for  him  and  was  borne  home. 


Count   Briihl  279 

He  was  persuaded  tliat  all  trouble  was  over  and 
that  lie  had  conquered  all  obstacles.  He  believed  in 
the  King's  heart.  He  received  his  wife  with  a  serene 
face  and  told  Ludovici  to  prepare  all  documents 
accusing  Briihl  of  false  accounts,  showing  his  abuses, 
etc.  Ludovici  having  received  these  orders  went  out 
immediately  to  see  that  they  were  fulfilled. 

While  this  was  going  on,  the  King  had  no  appetite 
at  the  commencement  of  his  meal.  His  attendants 
knew  him  well  and  immediately  used  the  most 
effectual  remedy.  Frosch  and  Horch  were  soon  before 
him,  looking  at  each  other  challengingly.  Frosch 
with  his  hands  in  his  pockets  did  not  wish  to  look 
at  Horch,  while  the  latter  having  contorted  his  mouth, 
and  half-closed  his  eyes,  pointed  at  his  adversary 
with  his  finger  and  slowly  advanced  towards  him. 

When  he  was  near  he  gave  him  a  ferocious  kick. 
Frosch  shrieked,  the  King  looked  and  his  face 
brightened.  Then  the  two  fools  began  to  abuse  each 
other. 

'  Traitor,'  cried  Frosch  opposite  Horch,  '  you  have 
not  the  courage  to  challenge  such  a  hero  as  I  am,  for 
you  know  that  I  could  crush  you  !  You  take  me  by 
treachery  and  you  shall  be  punished  for  it.' 

Horch  pretended  to  be  frightened,  kneeled,  clasped 
his  hands  and  seemed  to  beg  for  mercy.  But  Frosch 
rushed  upon  him,  but  it  happened  that  he  passed 
over  his  adversary's  head  and  found  himself  mounted 
on  his  shoulders.  Horch  had  risen  and  holding 
Frosch  b}^  his  feet  began  to  race  round  the  room  with 
him.  In  the  meantime  Frosch  pounded  Horch  on  the 
back  with  his  fist  and  seized  him  by  the  ears  and 
both  then  rolled  on  the  floor. 

The  King,  having  forgotten  all  his  troubles,  began 
to  laugh;  the  entertainment  restored  his  appetite 
and  he  ate  voraciously. 


280  Count  Briihl 

The  Queen,  although  it  did  not  amuse  her  at  all, 
pretended  to  laugh  also. 

In  addition  to  this  a  few  glasses  of  good  wine  im- 
proved the  King's  humour  so  much  that  Josephine 
did  not  doubt  that  after  dinner  she  would  be  able  to 
renew  her  attacks  upon  Sulkowski. 

Briihl  and  Guarini  were  waiting  in  the  King's 
apartments.  The  minister  did  not  hesitate  on  his 
own  responsibility  to  give  orders  that  in  the  event 
of  Sulkowski  appearing  he  was  to  be  told  that  the 
King  could  not  receive  him.  The  chamberlains  were 
told  to  excuse  themselves  as  best  they  could,  but  not 
to  admit  the  Count. 

It  was  a  serious  fight  in  which  it  was  difficult  to 
foresee  who  could  win,  because  Sulkowski 's  speech 
would  have  made  a  great  impression  on  the  King  but 
for  the  fact  that  the  Queen  overheard  some  of  the 
Count's  insinuations  and  his  advice  to  the  King  to 
try  and  recover  his  independence. 

After  dinner,  Augustus  as  usual  hastened  to  his 
apartment  to  smoke  his  pipe  and  enjoy  his  robe  de 
chambre ;  he  was  already  taking  leave  of  the  Queen, 
not  having  mentioned  a  word  about  Sulkowski,  when 
she  stopped  him:  'Augustus,'^  she  said,  *  I  heard 
what  Sulkowski  was  advising  you.' 

'Where?     How?' 

*  I  was  at  the  door,'  answered  the  Queen,  *  and  I 
am  glad  I  was  there  though  it  was  by  an  accident. 
You  are  as  kind  as  an  angel  and  a  King  cannot  be 
kind.  That  audacious  fellow  offended  the  King's 
majesty,  he  has  offended  you  and  me ;  he  dared  to 
advise  you  to  lead  a  bad  life.  Augustus,  if  this  man 
remains  in  the  court,  God's  punishment  will  descend 
upon  us.     How  could  you  suffer —  ' 

*Well?  What?'  said  the  King.  'It  worries  me. 
I  need  rest.     Drive  him  away  then,' 


Count  Briihl  28i 

'  Give  orders  ! ' 

Augustus  nodded  in  the  affirmative.  But  mis- 
trusting Mm  tlie  Queen  sent  for  Guarini  and  told 
him  to  act  immediately. 

Apprehensive  and  confused  Briihl  waited  for  the 
King.  Seeing  him  Augustus  did  not  say  a  word  and 
sat  down  in  an  arm-chair.  Almost  at  the  same 
moment  Guarini  entered  laughing. 

'Sire,  we  have  at  last  found  what  we  lost. 
Sulkowski  has  come  back  ;  evidently  he  must  have 
come  to  the  conclusion  that  it  is  useless  to  hunt  after 
happiness.  Chi  sta  bene,  non  si  muove.  Evidently 
he  was  not  satisfied  here,  but  he  has  come  back  just 
the  same,  for  elsewhere  must  have  been  worse.' 

Augustus  began  to  smoke  and  pointed  at  Briihl 
with  his  pipe. 

'  He  is  at  fault,'  he  said.  *  Why  did  they  let  him  in  ? 
The  Queen  listened — he  talked  nonsense — phew  ! ' 

*  Sire,  I  am  not  guilty,  somebody  betrayed  our 
secret,'  said  Briihl. 

*Do  what  you  please,'  said  the  King  with  asperity. 
*  I  do  not  wish  to  know  anything.  Write  a  warrant, 
I  will  sign  it — ' 

*  There  is  no  reason  for  your  Majesty  to  be  in  a 
bad  humour  and  spoil  your  health,'  Guarini  said. 
'  Faustina  is  going  to  sing  to-night  with  Abbuzzi, 
they  now  love  each  other  very  tenderly.' 

Augustus  looked  round  and  muttered  : 

'  Amor  quel  die  piaee!  '* 

It  was  the  beginning  of  a  song  which  he  was 
nearly  humming. 

Guarini,  taking  great  pains  to  disperse  the  king's 
gloomy  feelings,  ordered  a  magnificent  portrait 
painted  by  Giorgione,  and  recently  purchased  in 
Venice,  to  be  brought.  The  King  on  seeing  it  said 
enthusiastically  :  'A,  che  hello  ! ' 


282  Count   Briihl 

He  again  forgot  about  everything. 

*  What  softness  of  the  brush,  what  colouring,  what 
life  !  *  he  exclaimed,  delighted  with  the  picture,  and 
his  eyes  smiled. 

Half-an-hour  later  Faustina  asked  for  an  audience 
on  important  theatre  afFairs,  and  it  was  granted. 

All  withdrew  and  she  entertained  the  King  for 
about  half-an-hour  with  a  very  animated  conversa- 
tion ;  when  she  left,  Augustus  was  beaming  with 
delight  as  if  there  were  neither  ministers,  nor  state 
afFairs,  nor  any  sorrows  in  this  world.  The  clouds 
were  entirely  dispersed. 

It  was  not  so  easy  a  matter  to  calm  the  anxiety 
of  the  Queen  and  her  accomplices  in  the  plot.  They 
knew  how  daring  Sulkowski  was,  how  he  loved  the 
King,  how  many  friends  he  had  at  the  court,  and 
how,  as  he  was  familiar  with  the  habits  of  the  King, 
he  could  easily  reach  him.  Consequently  guards 
were  stationed  all  round  the  Count's  palace,  round 
the  opera,  at  the  side  door  of  the  castle,  at  the 
entrance  leading  to  the  King's  apartments. 

Guarini  did  not  leave  the  King  for  a  moment,  the 
Queen  was  watchful;  Briihl  and  the  Countess 
Moszynski  took  counsel  together  :  Henniche,  Globig, 
Loss,  Hammer,  and  the  whole  crowd  of  officials 
employed  by  Briihl,  scattered  through  the  town  and 
took  up  their  appointed  stations. 

Their  movements  were  a  matter  of  the  most  perfect 
indifference  to  Sulkowski,  as,  sure  of  his  victory,  he 
drew  up  a  report  with  which  he  proi)osed  to  over- 
throw his  adversary.  The  Count  was  persuaded 
that  his  speech  had  made  a  deep  impression  on  the 
King,  and  that  it  would  counterbalance  everything 
else. 

His  wife,  less  confident,  went  to  pay  a  visit  to  the 
Queen.      She  was  not  received.     Alarmed  by  this 


Count   Briihl  283 

she  insisted  on  obtaining  a  short  audience  and  at 
length  it  was  granted. 

The  Queen  received  her  very  coolly,  but  following 
Guarini's  advice  she  pretended  not  to  know  anything 
about  the  affairs  of  the  court  and  that  she  did  not 
wish  to  be  mixed  up  in  anything. 

The  Countess  Sulkowski,  upon  entering  the  room 
in  which  the  Queen  was  reading  a  pious  book,  did 
not  know  what  to  say. 

With  a  smile,  she  told  the  Queen,  that  she  came  to 
share  her  happiness  with  her  beloved  lady,  that  her 
husband  had  arrived.  From  that  she  passed  to  the 
rumour,  that  her  husband's  enemies  wished  to  injure 
him. 

'  My  dear  Countess,'  said  the  Queen,  '  pray,  let  us 
talk  about  something  else ;  I  am  occupied  with  my 
children,  prayers  and  art,  but  I  do  not  mix  in  the 
affairs  of  the  court  and  I  do  not  wish  to  know  any- 
thing about  them.' 

Once  more  the  Countess  attempted  to  explain,  but 
the  Queen  repeated : 

*  I  know  nothing.  The  King  does  not  ask  for  my 
advice,  I  do  not  interfere  with  his  affairs — ' 

After  a  short  conversation  the  subject  of  which 
was  a  newly  converted  Israelite,  and  Lent  prayers, 
the  Countess  took  leave  of  the  Queen. 

It  would  be  difficult  to  guess  whether  she  be- 
lieved in  the  Queen's  ignorance  about  the  intrigues 
of  the  court.  But  accustomed  to  trust  her  husband, 
she  calmed  herself  and  went  home. 

Ludovici  appeared  late  in  the  evening  but  his 
manner  indicated  nothing  good.  He  came  to  tell 
the  Count  that  he  found  insuperable  difficulties  in 
finding  documents,  that  the  officials  did  not  want  to 
obey  him,  and  that  consequently  it  was  impossible 
to  have  the  papers  ready  for  the  next  day. 


CHAPTER  XIX 

There  are  people  like  Sulkowski,  who  do  not  wish,  to 
see  or  to  believe  when  there  is  danger.  Neither  what 
his  wife  told  him,  about  her  very  cool  reception  by 
the  Queen,  nor  what  Ludovici  communicated  to  him, 
took  one  iota  from  the  assurance  the  Count  had  in 
himself  or  from  his  faith  in  the  future. 

It  seemed  to  him  that  the  King  was  so  fond  of  him, 
that  he  could  not  get  along  without  him,  and  he  was 
perfectly  confident.  His  wife,  a  timid  and  modest 
lady,  well  knowing  the  life  of  the  court  and  the  value 
of  that  which  is  called  the  King's  favour^  was  very 
much  afraid  although  she  did  not  show  it.  She  was 
aware  that  disgrace  in  Saxony,  especially  when  it 
was  trumped  up  by  one's  antagonists,  did  not  end 
in  a  simple  dismissal  and  banishment.  It  was 
usually  followed  by  the  confiscation  of  the  estates 
and  very  often  by  imprisonment  for  life  without  trial. 
Sulkowski,  in  disgrace,  could  be  threatening  to  his 
enemies  through  his  connections  with  the  courts  of 
France,  Austria,  and  Prussia ;  what  then  could  be 
more  natural  than  to  imprison  him  for  safety  ? 

The  Countess  spent  the  night  in  fear,  hiding  her 
tears  from  her  husband,  for  she  did  not  wish  to 
discourage  him. 

Her  husband,  on  the  contrary,  was  in  high  spirits, 
repeating  to  his  wife  what  he  had  said  to  the  King, 
and  what  impression  it  made  on  him.  He  flattered 
himself,  that  he  had  broken  the  snares  which  his  foes 
had  set  for  him  ;  that  everything  would  be  as  it  was 
before,  that  he  would  overthrow  the  whole  of  that 
clique,  and  so  surround  the  Queen,  as  to  render  her 
harmless  for  the  future. 


Count  Briihl  285 

The  next  morning,  the  fifth  of  February,  the  Count 
was  up  very  early,  dressed,  and,  according  to  his  old 
habit,  went  to  the  castle. 

Had  he  possessed  more  penetration  and  less  con- 
fidence in  himself,  he  would  easily  have  noticed  that 
everyone  in  the  court,  on  perceiving  him,  became 
grave  ;  some  of  the  courtiers  drew  aside  and  those, 
who  could  not  avoid  meeting  him,  were  very  cold 
and  spoke  but  little.  Sulkowski  being  privileged  to 
see  the  King  at  any  time  he  liked,  went  straight  to 
his  room,  but  the  Baron  von  Lowendhal  barred  his 
way  and  told  him  very  politely,  that  the  King  being 
very  busy  had  given  orders  that  no  one  was  to  be 
admitted,  without  any  exception. 

'  But  this  order  cannot  apply  to  me,'  said  Sulkowski 
smiling. 

'I  do  not  know  about  that,'  answered  Lowendhal, 
*  perchance  it  may  be  cancelled  later,  but  for  the 
present  you  must  excuse  me  for  executing  my  orders.' 

Sulkowski  not  wishing  to  condescend  to  a  quarrel, 
sure  that  later  he  would  be  able  to  avenge  such 
improper  behaviour,  saluted,  turned  and  went  off. 

He  determined  to  come  again  at  eleven  o'clock, 
when  the  King  used  to  receive  everj^body.  Coming 
down  from  the  stairs,  he  perceived  Briihl's  'porte- 
chaise  and  it  angered  him. 

*  Patience,'  he  said  to  himself,  '  these  are  their  last 
efforts,  for  they  would  not  dare  to  shut  the  door  in 
my  face.     We  shall  see — ' 

He  went  to  Ludovici's  office  and  found  him  pale 
and  confused. 

*  The  papers  ?  Have  you  the  papers  ? '  asked  the  Count. 

*  I  have  not  got  them  up  to  the  present ;  there  is 
something  mysterious  about  the  way  the  officials 
treat  me — it  does  not  portend  anything  good  to  us.' 

'  I  understand,'  said  the  Count  laughing,  '  they  see 


286 


Count   Briihl 


their  near  downfall  and  lose  tlieir  heads.  I  have  not 
yet  seen  the  King ;  they  told  me  he  was  very  busy. 
They  must  hold  council  what  to  do  with  Sulkowski, 
who  ruins  all  their  plans.' 

He  laughed  ;  Ludovici  sighed  but  did  not  dare  to 
tell  him  that  he  was  mistaken. 

The  Count  hesitated  as  to  whether  or  not  he  should 
call  on  Briihl,  who  ought  to  have  already  paid  a  visit 
to  him.    That  was  also  a  kind  of  a  declaration  of  war. 

*  His  conscience  is  not  clear,'  he  said  to  himself, 
*he  does  not  dare  to  see  me,  he  is  packing  his 
baggage,  sure  of  dismissal.' 

Ludovici  that  day  was  not  communicative,  he 
sighed,  became  pensive,  paced  the  room  and  moaned. 
It  made  Sulkowski  laugh. 

As  he  had  nothing  to  do  he  determined  to  pay  a  visit 
to  the  Countess  Moszynski  in  order  to  see  whether  he 
would  be  received,  and  to  enjoy  the  Countess's  fright. 

Accordingly  he  went  to  the  Countess,  but  she  begged 
to  be  excused,  as  the  hour  was  early  and  she  not  dressed. 
He  returned  home  where  he  found  his  wife  very  uneasy. 

Joking  at  her  useless  fears,  he  told  her  that  he 
was  going  again  to  the  King.  It  was  a  quarter  to 
eleven  when  Sulkowski  went  again  to  the  castle. 
There  were  very  few  people  in  the  ante-room. 

As  Sulkowski  approached  the  door  leading  to  the 
King's  apartments,  a  page  rushed  out  and  told  him 
that  the  King  was  in  the  Queen's  apartments.  He 
had  no  desire  to  go  to  the  Queen,  for  there  he  would 
not  be  received  without  being  first  announced.  Not 
knowing  what  to  do  with  himself,  he  went  to  his 
porte-chaise.  His  first  idea  was  to  return  home,  but 
thinking  that  such  an  early  return  would  frighten 
his  wife,  he  preferred  to  go  elsewhere. 

The  second  failure  to  see  the  King  made  him 
thoughtful ;  naturally  there  was  some  intrigue   but 


Count  Briihl  287 

he  did  not  believe  it  could  have  any  result.  He 
determined  to  overcome  all  difficulties  by  patience 
and  constancy,  not  to  show  any  impatience ;  and  he 
was  sure  that  he  would  conquer. 

Faustina's  house  was  on  his  way,  and  he  determined 
to  call  on  her.  He  knew  how  much  the  King 
admired  the  singer  and  he  hoped  to  be  able  to 
learn  something  from  her. 

Already  in  the  ante-room  he  heard  such  a  noise  that 
he  thought  of  withdrawing,  not  wishing  to  find  himself 
in  improper  company.  All  at  once  the  door  opened 
and  out  came  Amorevoli,  Monticelli,  Abbuzzi,  Puttini, 
Pilagia  and  a  few  Frenchmen,  talking  very  loud 
and  quarrelling.  Catching  sight  of  Sulkowski,  they 
became  silent,  giving  way  to  him  and  bowing  humbly. 

Faustina,  who  drove  them  out,  stood  on  the  thres- 
hold ;  she  became  confused  at  sight  of  the  Count, 
but  smiling  she  asked  him  to  come  in. 

'  When  did  your  Excellency  return  ?  '  she  exclaimed, 
*  for  I  did  not  know  you  were  back.' 

*Well,  up  to  the  present  I  am  half  incognito,'  said 
the  Count  smiling.  '  Just  imagine,  my  beautiful  lady, 
that  since  yesterday  I  have  not  seen  the  King.  I ! ' 
said  he  pointing  to  himself.  *  Twice  they  would  not 
admit  me  to  his  Majesty.  I  began  to  believe  that  my 
absence  made  me  forget  the  customs  of  the  court,  and 
I  came  to  beg  you  for  some  explanation.' 

*The  Count  is  kind  enough  to  joke  with  me,' 
the  singer  replied,  looking  at  him  with  a  mixture 
of  commiseration  and  fear.  '  I  only  know  the  stage 
court.  On  the  stage  I  am  either  a  Queen  or  a 
goddess,  but  when  I  am  off  the  stage  I  know  nothing 
of  what  is  going  on  in  the  world.' 

'But,'  said  Sulkowski  in  a  low  voice,  *tell  me, 
have  you  heard  anything  ?  Am  I  really  threatened 
by  your  friend  Guarini  ?  ' 


288  Count  Briihl  . 

*I  do  not  know  anything,'  said  Faustina,  shaking 
her  head.  'I  have  enough  of  my  own  theatrical 
sorrows.  It  is  very  probably  that  they  are  plotting 
against  you,  but  you.  Count,  you  need  not  be  afraid.' 

*  Neither  am  I  afraid,  but  I  would  like  to  tirer  au 
clair  and  to  know  what  it  is.' 

*It  is  jealousy  and  competition,'  Faustina  rejoined, 
'  In  theatres  they  are  very  common,  we  are  well 
acquainted  with  them.' 

'  And  the  remedy  ?  ' 

Faustina  shrugged  her  shoulders. 

'  Some  people  would  withdraw ;  those  who  wish 
to  fight  it  out,  must  stick  to  their  guns,  for  they 
will  never  find  peace.' 

Sulkowski  did  not  dare  to  remind  her  of  the 
warning  she  had  given  him  ;  her  speech  and  manner 
were  now  quite  different ;  she  was  afraid. 

Seeing  that  he  would  not  learn  much  from  her, 
the  Count  asked  about  the  new  opera,  about  Hasse, 
and  took  leave  of  her. 

He  determined  to  go  straight  home.  Nothwith- 
standing  the  confidence  which  had  not  yet  left  him, 
he  was  depressed  and  obliged  to  keep  a  close  watch 
on  himself,  lest  the  impatience  which  was  taking 
hold  of  him  should  show  itself. 

In  front'  of  his  palace  he  found  a  court  carriage. 
The  Baroness  von  Lowendhal,  daughter  of  the  Grand 
Master  of  Ceremonies  was  with  his  wife.  Sulkowski 
entered  the  drawing-room. 

The  two  ladies  were  sitting  on  the  sofa  and  chatting 
with  vivacity.  The  Baroness  von  Lowendahl,  a  very 
lively  though  not  very  young  person,  and  always 
the  best  informed  about  everything,  sprang  from  the 
sofa  and  greeted  the  Count  as  he  entered.  On  her  face 
one  might  discern  much  distraction  and  nervousness. 

*  Count,  you  will  be  able  to  tell  us  the  latest  news, 


Count  Briihl  289 

she  said  shaking  hands  with  him,  'what  is  going 
on  at  the  court?  Some  changes  are  expected,  and 
we  do  not  know  what  they  may  be.' 

'  But  where  does  such  a  supposition  come  from  ?  * 
asked  the  Count. 

'  An  hour  ago,'  said  the  lady  animated,  '  the 
King  sent  for  old  General  Bandissin,  who  is 
suffering  with  gout  and  commanded  him  to  come 
to  the  castle.  The  general  who  could  hardly  walk 
across  the  rooift  with  a  stick,  begged  to  be  excused, 
giving  his  illness^  as  his  reason  ;  nothwithstanding 
that  they  sent  again  for  him  and  I  saw  him  going 
to  the  castle.' 

'I  do  not  know  what  that  means,'  answered 
Sulkowski  quietly.  'I  went  twice  to  the  castle 
and  could  not  see  the  King  ;  it's  extremely  amusing.* 

He  began  to  laugh,  while  the  Baroness  prattled  on. 

*  They  say  that  Bandissin,  who  has  already  asked 
several  times  to  be  pensioned,  will  get  his  release 
at  last.  He  needs  rest.  But  the  worst  thing  is,  it 
seems  thg,t  my  father  is  going  to  be  dismissed.' 

'  I  do  not  believe  it,'  said  Sulkowski,  *  but  as  I  was 
absent  from  Dresden  for  several  months,  I  am  not 
au  courant  of  affairs  just  now.' 

The  Baroness  looked  at  him. 

'  It  is  very  easy  to  guess.  The  positions  are 
required  for  others.' 

'  Better  not  talk  of  these  things,'  said  the  Countess 
'  I  am  afraid  to  say  a  word.' 

The  Count  shrugged  his  shoulders. 

'  Vain  fears,'  he  said, '  all  that  will  soon  be  changed.' 

A  lackey  rushed  in. 

'  His  Excellency  the  Grand  Master  of  Ceremonies, 
Baron  von  Lowendhal  and  His  Excellency  General 
Bandissin,'  he  announced. 

All  looked  at  each  other,  the  Countess  grew  pale. 
T 


290  Count   Briihl 

'  Show  them  in,'  said  the  Count  advancing  towards 
the  door. 

The  guests  entered,  and  Lowendhal,  having  noticed 
his  daughter,  looked  at  her  as  though  in  reproach  at 
finding  her  there. 

The  greeting  was  stiff,  Sulkowski  received  them 
coldly,  not  being  able  to  explain  their  visit.  He 
motioned  to  them  to  be  seated,  when  Bandissin  said  : 

*  Count,  we  wish  to  speak  to  you  without  witnesses, 
we  are  sent  by  the  King.' 

Sulkowski's  face  did  not  change,  he  pointed  to  the 
next  room. 

The  ladies,  who  could  not  hear  the  conversation, 
demained  seated,  frightened  and  curious. 

The  Countess  trembled,  feeling  that  this  boded 
no  good. 

The  Baroness  wished  to  leave,  but  the  Countess 
retained  her  by  force,  and  she  had  not  the  strength 
to  resist. 

When  the  men  entered  the  other  room,  Bandissin, 
an  old  and  obedient  soldier,  took  from  his  pocket 
and  with  evident  pain  a  warrant  signed  by  the  King. 

He  handed  it  in  silence  to  Sulkowski,  who,  in  pass- 
ing the  threshold  of  that  room,  seemed  to  have 
strayed  into  another  world,  and  stood  pale  and  as 
though  thunderstruck. 

He  took  the  paper  with  trembling  hands,  read  it, 
but  did  not  understand. 

Lowendhal,  who  pitied  him  and  wished  to  get  it 
pver  as  soon  as  possible,  seeing  that  the  Count  did 
not  understand  what  it  was  all  about,  passed  behind 
him  and  read  the  warrant  aloud. 

It  was  very  short  and  ran  as  follows  : 

*His  Majesty  the  King,  having  noticed  that  the 
Count  Sulkowski  has  several  times,  and  especially 
at  the  last  interview  forgotten  himself  and  lacked  the 


Count   Briihl  291 

respect  due  to  His  Majesty,  has  determined  to  take 
from  him  all  the  appointments  the  Count  has  held  at 
the  court,  and  dismiss  him  from  all  duties.  In  con- 
sideration of  his  long  service,  however.  His  Majesty 
leaves  him  the  pension  of  a  general.' 

Sulkowski  expected  something  worse  from  the  fate 
which  other  men  had  met ;  therefore  as  he  now  under- 
stood the  meaning  of  the  warrant,  he  recovered. 

'His  Majesty's  wall,'  he  said,  'is  sacred  to  me. 
Although  I  feel  unjustly  hurt,  evidently  by  the 
machinations  of  my  rivals,  I  shall  bear  my  lot.  If  I 
have  ever  forgotten  myself  towards  his  Majesty,  it 
was  because  of  the  love  I  have  for  my  King,  and  not 
from  any  lack  of  respect.' 

Neither  Bandissin  nor  Lowendhal  replied. 
Sulkowski,  before  whom  not  long  ago  they  had  almost 
kneeled, noticed  the  effect  of  his  disgrace  first  upon  them. 

Their  former  affability  was  gone.  Bandissin. 
looked  at  him  as  on  an  inferior.  In  the  faces  of  both 
gentlemen  one  could  see  that  all  they  desired  was  to 
get  rid  of  him  as  soon  as  possible. 

Both  bowed  coolly,  and  distantly.  Sulkowski 
returned  their  bow  and  conducted  them  back  to  the 
drawing-room.  Here  they  saluted  the  ladies  from  a 
distance  and  went  out  as  soon  as  they  could.  The 
Count  politely  escorted  them  to  the  ante-room  and 
returned  so  serene,  that  his  wife  could  not  read  in 
his  face  what  had  happened. 

The  Baroness  Low^endhal  waited  hoping  to  be 
enlightened,  and  dared  not  ask  him. 

Sulkowski  looked  at  his  wife  whose  face  betrayed 
anxious  curiosity. 

'  Thank  God,'  said  he,  in  a  voice  which  trembled 
slightly,  '  we  are  free.  His  Majesty  has  pleased  to 
dismiss  me  from  my  duties.  Although  I  regret  to 
be  obliged  to  leave  my  beloved  lord,  t  do  not  feel  at 


292  Count   Briihl 

all  liurt.     It  would  be  difficult  for  an  honest  man  to 
remain  at  the  court  under  existing  circumstances.' 

His  wife  covered  her  face. 

'My  dear,'  said  the  Count,  'be  calm,  pray.  The 
reason  for  my  dismissal  is  this.  It  seems  that  I  forgot 
myself  in  the  respect  due  to  his  Majesty,  in  that  I  spoke 
the  unadvisable  and  unpleasant  truth ;  the  King  is 
kind  enough  to  leave  me  the  pension  of  a  general  and 
give  me  precious  liberty — we  shall  go  to  .Vienna.' 

The  Baroness  Lowendhal  looked  at  the  Count  with 
admiration.  She  could  not  understand  the  equani- 
mity with  which  he  received  the  news  of  his  downfall 
from  his  former  high  position.  The  fact  was  that 
Sulkowski's  pride  permitted  him  neither  to  feel  nor 
to  show  that  he  was  hurt.  After  the  first  shock  he 
pulled  himself  together  and  accepted  his  fate  in  a 
truly  lordly  way. 

It  was  possible  that  he  still  had  hope. 

The  Countess  cried. 

The  Baroness  understood  that  her  presence  was 
superfluous,  for  she  could  not  offer  consolation  and 
her  presence  prevented  them  from  consoling  each 
other ;  she  silently  pressed  her  friend's  hand  and 
slipped  from  the  room. 

The  Countess  continued  to  weep. 
,  '  My  dearest,'  exclaimed  the  Count,  '  I  pray  you  to  be 
brave.  It  is  not  advisable  to  show  that  we  are  hurt.  We 
have  to  be  thankful  to  the  King  that  I  was  not  sent  to 
Konigstein,  and  that  instead  of  confiscating  my  estates 
they  leave  me  a  pension.  The  banishment  to  Nebigan 
is  not  very  dreadful  and  does  not  exclude  all  hope — of 
overthrowing  all  that  scaffolding  built  by  my  honest, 
sweet,  faithful  friend,  Briihl !     Pray,  be  calm — ' 

But  the  woman  was  not  easily  consoled. 

Sulkowski  looked  at  his  watch,  offered  his  wife  his 
arm  and  whispering  gently,  conducted  her  to  her  room. 


CHAPTER  XX 

If  there  is  anything  that  can  arouse  the  greatest 
contempt  for  mankind  it  is  the  sight  of  the  sudden 
downfall  of  the  favourite  of  fortune,  who,  not  long 
since,  was  idolised  by  his  fellows. 

There  is  in  that  something  so  vile  and  degrading^ 
that  the  heart  shudders  ;  but  in  such  situations  a 
man  learns  to  value  others  at  their  right  price  and  tests 
his  best  friends.  No  one  who  has  not  passed  through 
a  similar  crisis,  can  understand  how  bitter  is  the 
feeling  that  arises  in  the  heart. 

Sulkowski,  who  from  childhood  had  been  with 
Augustus  and  who  was  accustomed  to  be  treated  as 
his  friend,  bore  his  fate  with  dignity ;  he  could  not. 
however,  restrain  the  scorn  excited  in  him  by  the 
two  gentlemen  dispatched  to  him  by  the  King 

He  at  once  sent  for  Ludovici.  The  councillor  owed 
him  everything ;  but  fear  for  his  future,  for  his  position, 
prompted  him  not  to  come,  excusing  himself  on  the 
plea  that  he  was  very  husy, 

'  It  will  be  necessary,'  the  Count  said  quietly,  '  for 
me  to  pay  the  knave  a  visit  and  get  my  papers  back, 
if  he  has  not  already  given  them  to  Briihl,  in  order 
in  that  way  to  purchase  his  pardon.' 

In  the  afternoon  of  the  same  day,  the  Count  went 
to  the  Castle.  On  his  way  he  endured  a  veritable 
martyrdom. 

The  news  of  Sulkowski's  do^wnfall  was  already 
known  in  town,  and  although  he  had  never  wronged 
anybody,  and  could  have  sinned  only  by  his  pride 
against  his  subordinates,  being  even  too  good  to 
many  of  them,  all  felt  it  their  duty  to  show  him 
how  glad  they  were  to  hear  of  his  disgrace. 


294  Count    Briihl 

He  passed  by  Bruhl's  offices  ;  the  clerks  noticed 
him  through  the  windows,  and,  putting  their  pens 
behind  their  ears,  with  their  hands  in  their  pockets, 
they  rushed  out  into  the  street  in  order  to  sneer  at 
their  former  master. 

Sulkowski  saw  and  heard  what  was  going  on 
around  him,  but  he  exercised  so  much  self-control 
that  neither  by  sign  nor  glance  did  he  betray  that 
he  saw  or  felt  anything.  He  passed  on  slowly, 
hearing  their  ironical  exclamations. 

At  every  step  of  the  way  he  met  those  who  only 
yesterday  bowed  humbly  as  they  passed  him,  but 
to-day  they  pretended  not  to  see  him.,  or  looked  at 
him  impertinently,  in  order  to  show  that  they  might 
disregard  him. 

Carriages  passed  by  from  which  heads  would  be 
stretched  and  eyes  follow  him.  In  the  castle  the  appari- 
tion of  a  ghost  would  not  have  caused  greater  fear. 

They  dared  not  shut  the  doors  in  his  face,  but 
even  the  lackeys  would  not  make  way  for  him. 

Sulkowski  seeing  this  would  perhaps  have  with- 
drawn but  he  determined  to  see  the  King  once  more. 

Being  familiar  with  the  King's  regular  habits,  he 
knew  that  he  passed  that  hour  in  the  Queen's  apart- 
ments. It  was  possible  that  the  servants  would  warn 
the  King  but  he  determined  to  take  his  chance. 

He  entered  a  certain  room  in  which  fortunately 
there  was  no  one,  and  this  man,  whose  orders  were 
formerly  obeyed  by  the  whole  court,  stood  modestly  in 
a  corner,  thinking  over  his  situation.  At  that  moment 
the  King  entered  with  a  chamberlain ;  when  Sul- 
kowski kneeled  the  King  was  frightened  and  wished 
to  retreat. 

The  count  seized  his  legs. 

'  Sire !  '  he  exclaimed,  '  do  not  send  your  servant 
away,  without  a  hearing. 


Count  Briihl  295 

*  Ever  since  childhood  I  have  been  fortunate  in  faith- 
fully fulfilling  my  duties  towards  your  Majesty.' 
The  King's  face  depicted  the  greatest  alarm. 

*  Sulkowski —  '  he  said,  '  — I  cannot — I  do  not  wish 
to  hear  anything — ' 

'I  beseech  your  Majesty,'  rejoined  the  Count,  'to 
listen  to  me  ;  I  ask  for  nothing,  except  that  I  may 
go  away  cleared,  for  my  conscience  is  clean.  Sire, 
kindly  remember  the  years  we  spent  together ;  have 
I  ever  forgotten  myself  or  overstepped  the  boundaries 
of  respect?  Those  who  wish  to  get  rid  of  me,  are 
afraid  that  someone  watching  over  them  might  dis- 
cover their  deeds,  and  they  send  me  away  because  I 
am  faithful  to  your  Majesty — Sire — ' 

Augustus  covered  his  eyes  with  trembling  hands 
and  tapping  the  floor  with  his  feet,  repeated  : 

*  I  do  not  wish  to  hear — ' 

'  I  only  want  to  justify  myself.' 

'  Enough  ! '  cried  the  King,  *  my  firm  resolution  is 
to  part  with  you  ;  that  cannot  be  changed.  Neither 
to  yourself  nor  to  your  family  shall  any^evil^befall — 
be  at  ease,  but  go,  go,  go  ! ' 

The  King  said  this  with  evident  fear,  afraid  lest 
he  might  give  way  should  no  one  come  in. 

'  Sire,'  cried  the  Count  desperately  rising  from  the 
ground,  *  may  it  be  permitted  me  to  thank  your 
Majesty  for  the  favours  I  have  received  from  the 
King,  and  to  kiss  his  hand  for  the  last  time  ?  ' 

The  King  was  near  to  tears,  but  there  was  a 
chamberlain  present,  a  witness  and  spy  in  one ; 
therefore  he  put  out  his  trembling  hand,  which  the 
Count  covered  with  kisses. 

'  Sire  !  '  he  cried,  '  that  hand  repulses  an  innocent 
man  !  I  repeat  that  I  am  innocent,  because  I  could 
have  sinned  only  by  the  excess  of  my  love  towards 
your  Majesty.' 


290  Count   Briihl 

The  uneasiness  and  alarm  on  the  King's  face 
increased. 

*  Enough ! '  he  exclaimed,  *  I  cannot  listen  to  you, 
I  command  you  to  leave.' 

Sulkowski  bowed  in  silence  and  withdrew- 
Augustus  rushed  to  the  door  leading  to  the  Queen's 
apartment. 

The  count  needed  a  few  minutes  to  collect  his 
thoughts  and  gather  strength  ;  he  leaned  against  the 
wall,  pressed  his  forehead  with  his  hands,  and  stood 
there  for  some  time ;  he  was  about  to  go  when  a 
chamberlain  entered  and  told  him  in  the  most 
impertinent  tone  to  leave  the  room. 

'  His  majesty  commands  you  by  me,'  he  said,  '  to 
leave  the  castle  at  once  and  not  to  show  yourself  at 
the  court.  His  Majesty's  will  is  that  you  live  at 
Nebigan.' 

Sulkowski  glanced  proudly  at  the  man,  made  no 
reply  and  went  out. 

His  last  effort  was  frustrated,  and  there  remained 
nothing,  but  to  drink  the  cup  without  shrinking.  A 
craving  for  revenge  arose  in  his  heart,  but  he  quelled 
it,  for  he  knew  that  his  enemies  had  the  advantage. 

He  returned  home  in  order  to  tranquillise  his  wife 
and  assure  her  that  she  need  fear  nothing  worse  . 

The  banishment  to  Nebigan,  situated  near  Dresden* 
permitted  the  hope  of  meeting  the  King  and  of 
justifying  himself.     To  this  his  wife  replied  : 

'Briihl  will  not  be  satisfied  with  banishment,  we 
shall  be  in  his  hands  !  He  will  find  some  reasons  to 
renew  his  attack  ;  let  us  leave  this  cursed  Saxony 
immediately  :  let  us  go  to  Vienna,  to  Poland,  any- 
where you  please,  except  remain  here  ! ' 

During  the  whole  evening,  the  people  gathered 
round  Sulkowski's  palace,  looking  in  at  the 
windows,  anxious  to  see  the  ashes  of  the   sacrifice. 


Count  Briihl  297 

From  time  to  time  Sulkowski  came  to  the  window 
and4ooked  at  the  vile  crowd.  Nobody  called  on  him 
that  evening.  But  an  official  document  was  handed 
to  the  porter,  in  which  the  King  dismissed  the  Count 
from  his  duties  of  Grand  Chamberlain  and  Grand 
Equerry  of  the  court. 

The  Count  laid  the  paper  on  the  table. 

The  same  evening  there  was  a  reception  at  Bruhl's 
palace.  The  minister's  face  expressed  uneasiness  ; 
he  was  tired  after  the  fight.  He  threw  himself  into 
an  arm-chair  when  his  wife  came  into  the  drawing- 
room. 

She  looked  at  him  scornfully. 

*I  ought  to  congratulate  you,'  she  said,  *you  are 
master  of  the  situation,  king  of  Saxony  and  Poland  ; 
Henniche  is  the  lieutenant  general ;  Loss,  Hammer 
and  Globig  viceroys.' 

'  And  you  are  the  queen,'  rejoined  Briihl  smiling, 
*  a  double  titre.^ 

'Yes,'  she  said  laughing,  '  I  am  beginning  to  get 
accustomed  to  my  situation,  I  find  it  quite  bearable.' 

She  shrugged  her  shoulders. 

*  Provided  it  lasts  longer  than  Sulkowski's  reign.' 

'  I  should  add,  that  you  are  very  clever,  having 
laid  your  throne  on  women's  shoulders.  The  Queen, 
T,  the  Countess  Moszynski,  and  Fraulein  Hernberg — 
not  counting  Abbuzzi,  for  she  is  a  supernumary . ' 

*  It  is  your  fault  that  I  must  seek  for  hearts  outside 
my  own  house.' 

'  Ah  !  hearts  !  hearts  ! '  interrupted  his  wife, 
'neither  you  nor  I  have  any  right  to  speak  about 
hearts.  We  have  fancies,  but  not  hearts ;  we  have 
senses,  but  not  sentiments,  but — it  is  better  so.' 

She  turned  from  him. 

*  One  word,'  said  Briihl,  '  later  the  guests  will 
arrive  and  I  shall  not  have  a  chance  of  talking  to  you.' 


298 


Count   Briihl 


'What  is  it?' 

Briihl  bent  close  to  her  ear. 

*  You  are  compromising  yourself.' 

*  The  idea!' 

*  That  young  employe  from  my  office — ' 
She  blushed  and  said  angrily  : 

'I  have  my  fancies!  Nobody  can  stop  them. 
Pray  do  not  mix  yourself  up  in  my  affairs,  as  I 
do  not  mix  in  yours.' 

'Madam!' 

Here  the  Countess  Moszynski  entered  :  she  was 
beaming  with  animation.  She  put  out  her  hands 
to  Frau  Briihl  and  said  : 

'  There  is  victory  sur  tout  la  ligne  !  In  town  they 
speak  of  nothing  else  ;  they  wonder,  they  tremble — ' 

'  They  rejoice,'  added  Briihl. 

'  I  am  not  certain  of  that,'  the  Countess  interrupted, 
'  but  we  are  pleased  at  the  downfall  of  that  proconsul. 
Once  and  for  all  we  are  en  famille  and  are  not 
required  to  bow  to  that  proud  lord.' 

*  What  news  ?  What  does  he  intend  to  do  ?  '  asked 
Briihl. 

'  If  you  know  him,'  the  Coii:itess  said,  '  you  should 
readily  guess.  Naturally  he  will  go  to  ^^TeLigan,  where 
he  will  shake  his  head  as  he  used  to  do  and  try 
to  see  the  King,  and  to  intrigue  in  order  to  regain 
his  favour.' 

Briihl  laughed. 

'  Yes,  it  is  very"  probable  ;  but,  dear  Countess — 
from  Nebigan  it  is  not  far  to  Dresden,  neither  is 
it  far  from  Konigstein — I  doubt — ' 

At  that  moment  a  new-comer,  Countess  Hernberg, 
the  wife  of  the  Austrian  envoy,  entered.  She  was 
a  beautiful,  black-eyed  Viennese,  with  aristocratic 
features,  who  was  also  Briihl's  Egeria,  and  said 
without  any  greeting  : 


Count  Brlihl  299 

^  I  make  a  wager  that  they  go  to  Vienna.' 

Briihl  made  a  grimace. 

The  two  ladies  began  to  converse  together  and  the 
Countess  Moszynski  took  Briihl  aside. 

'You  make  a  mistake,'  she  said.  'Never  do 
anything  by  halves  ;  you  ought  to  have  shut  him — ' 

'  The  King  would  never  consent,'  said  Briihl,  '  by 
asking  too  much,  we  might  make  him  resist,  and 
Sulkowski  would  have  our  heads  cut  off.  Then, 
I  know  the 'Count  too  well,  and  that  is  why  I  do 
not  fear  him,  he  is  a  weak-minded  man,  he  cannot 
make  a  plot.  Before  he  leaves  Nebigan  I  shall  find 
proofs  that  he  appropriated  two  million  thalers  and 
then  Konigstein  will  be  justified — ' 

'  Briihl ! '  laughed  the  Countess,  '  two  million 
thalers — and  you — ' 

'  I  do  not  have  one  single  penny  for  myself,' 
exclaimed  Briihl,  '  only  for  the  receptions,  by  which 
I  endeavour  to  do  honour  to  my  King.  I  am  in 
debt.' 

Then  he  whispered  : 

'Do  not  think  that  I  am  so  stupid  as  to  let  the 
prey  go  before  it  is  killed  ;  but  I  was  obliged  to 
do  it  with  two  blows.  I  shall  get  him  away  from 
Nebigan  as  soon  as  I  wish.  In  the  meanwhile  I 
gather  proofs.  In  a  few  weeks'  time  the  King  will 
consent  to  anything.' 

He  laughed  strangely,  when  the  Grand  Minister 
of  Ceremonies,  entering,  obliged  him  to  leave  the 
Countess,  who  joined  the  ladies. 

'  How  did  he  receive  the  news  ?  '  asked  Briihl. 

'  At  first  he  was  dismayed,  but  after  a  time, 
bravely  and  proudly.' 

'But  the  Chamberlain  Frisen  told  me,'  hissed 
Briihl,  'that  having  surprised  the  King  in  the 
castle,  he  crawled  to  his  feet.' 


300  Count  Briihl 

*  It  is  possible/  said  Lowendhal,  *  But — ' 

He  did  not  have  time  to  finish  the  sentence,  for 
the  butler  made  signs  to  Briihl  from  the  door,  and 
he  was  obliged  to  leave  his  guest  and  go  and  find 
out  why  he  had  been  called.  He  passed  through 
the  drawing-room  with  some  uneasiness,  for  although 
the  King  was  carefully  watched,  he  feared  that  the 
former  favourite  had  succeeded  in  stealing  into  the 
castle. 

Henniche  was  waiting  in  the  study,  sitting  comfort- 
ably in  an  armchair.  Although  he  made  some 
movement  as  the  minister  entered,  one  could  see 
that  he  played  with  him,  knowing  that  he  was  more 
necessary  to  Briihl,  than  Briihl  to  him. 

*  What  is  this  urgent  business  you  have  to  com- 
municate ?  '  said  Briihl  reproachfully.  '  The  people 
will  think  that  something  has  happened.' 

*  Let  them  think,'  said  Henniche  impatiently. 
*  Your  Excellency  amuses  himself  and  I  work  ;  I  cannot 
satisfy  your  fancies.' 

'  Are  you  mad  ?  ' 

'  I  ? '  asked  Henniche  qaickly. 

*  You  forget  yourself,'  said  Briihl. 
Henniche  laughed. 

'  Let  us  drop  that ;  to  others  you  may  be  a  great 
man,  but  not  to  me  ' 
He  waved  his  hand. 
'  To  what  would  you  amount  without  me  ?  ' 

*  And  what  about  you,  without  me  ? '  cried  Briihl 
vehemently. 

'  I  am  a  fork,  with  which  every  minister  must  eat ; 
it's  quite  different.' 
Briihl  quieted  down. 
'  Well,  tell  me,  what  news  ?  ' 

*  Instead  of  thanking  me,  your  Excellency  scolds 
me.     It   is   true   that   Henniche  was   a   lackey,  but 


Count   Briihl  301 

precisely   for   tliat   reason,  he   does  not  like  to  be 
reminded  of  the  fact.' 

Saying  this  he  unfolded  some  papers. 

'  Here  is  what  I  have  brought ;  I  made  Ludovici 
drunk,  I  have  assured  him  that  we  shall  appoint  him 
a  councillor  in  the  secret  department,  and  I  guarantee 
that  he  shall  keep  it  in  such  secrecy  that  nobody  shall 
learn  about  it !  I  have  already  some  accusations. 
There  are  sums  taken  from  the  custom  house,  there 
are  receipts  of  money  not  paid  to  the  army.  Ho ! 
ho !  plenty  to  accuse  him  of.  How  could  he  buy 
estates  otherwise  ? ' 

'  You  must  have  proofs,'  said  Briihl. 

'Black  and  white,'  Henniche  returned. 

'  When  could  you  have  them  ready  ?  ' 

'  In  a  few  days.' 

'  There  is  no  hurry,'  said  Briihl,  *  the  King  must 
rest  after  his  first  effort.  Faustina  shall  sing,  Guarini 
shall  make  him  laugh,  we  shall  shoot ;  the  incident 
in  the  corridor  will  be  forgotten,  then  we  shall  be  able 
to  act.  The  essential  thing  is  to  keep  all  in  secrecy  ; 
he  must  not  suspect  anything  and  run  away.' 

Henniche,  who  looked  attentively  at  his  master, 
added : 

'  We  must  watch  him  at  Nebigan ;  we  must  tell 
some  of  our  lackeys  to  enter  his  service  ;  they  will" 
act  as  spies.' 

'  Very  good,'  said  Briihl. 

'  I  should  think  it  is  very  good,  as  I  never  suggest 
anything  bad,'  rejoined  Henniche. 

'  If  he  escapes  to  Vienna,  or  to  Prussia,  even  to 
Poland,'  said  Briihl  thoughtfully,  '  it  would  be  a  very 
unpleasant  and  dangerous  occurrence.' 

*Yes,  dangerous,'  said  Henniche  fixing  his  wig, 
*  for  although  he  is  not  very  cunning,  it  is  never  wise 
to  despise  an  enemy.' 


302  Count  Briihl 

'Then  it  is  understood,'  whispered  Briihl,  'you 
collect  proofs  of  guilt.  It  would  not  be  proper  for 
me,  who  succeed  him,  to  act  openly  against  him.' 

Before  leaving  he  added  : 

'  Listen,  Henniche,  you  cannot  go  away,  it  will  be 
better  to  send  Globig.  Such  a  man  as  Sulkowski 
cannot  be  put  in  one  room,  especially  when  it  is 
probable  that  he  will  remain  there  a  long  time.  Do 
you  understand  ?  Tell  Globig  to  go  to  the  command- 
ant and  let  him  choose  a  few  good  rooms  for  the 
Count,  that  he  may  be  quite  comfortable.  They 
might  clean  the  rooms  and  have  them  ready,  but 
they  must  not  know  for  whom  they  are  destined.' 

Henniche  laughed. 

'  Your  Excellency  forgets  that  for  such  a  game  I 
must  be  rewarded.' 

'  When  he  is  in  the  cage,'  Briihl  said.  '  And  it 
seems  to  me  that  you  do  not  forget  yourself.' 

*  We  are  both  alike,'  rejoined  Henniche  folding  the 
papers.  *  Why  should  we  cheat  each  other  ?  We 
know  each  other  well.' 

Briihl,  although  the  ex-lackey  treated  him  so 
brutally,  did  not  dare  to  answer ;  he  needed  him. 

The  minister  returned  with  a  serene  face  to  the 
drawing-room,  where  the  card  tables  were  quite  ready. 
The  Countess  Moszynski,  tapping  the  table  with  her 
fingers,  waited  for  him. 

'  Sit  down,'  she  said,  '  at  this  hour  all  business 
goes  to  bed.' 


CHAPTER  XXI 

The  last  days  of  the  carnival  were  more  merry  than 
in  former  years,  because  everyone  tried  to  make  the 
King  cheerful,  on  whose  forehead  could  often  be  seen 
something  like  sadness  and  yearning. 

He  yawned  very  often  during  the  afternoon,  and 
Guarini's  jokes  could  not  make  him  laugh.  They 
asked  Faustina  to  sing  the  King's  favourite  songs. 
Frosch  and  Horch  were  promised  a  reward  for  good 
tricks.  They  induced  the  King  to  shoot  every  day 
at  a  target.  The  entertainments  at  the  castle  were 
very  brilliant.  Briihl  would  hardly  leave  the  castle  ; 
he  would  stand  at  the  door  trying  to  guess  the  King's 
thoughts.  Sometimes  Augustus  would  be  in  a  better 
humour  and  would  smile  ;  but  very  often  too,  during 
the  laughter,  a  cloud  would  come  and  the  monarch's 
face  would  become  suddenly  gloomy  ;  then  he  would 
turn  to  the  window,  and  appeared  not  to  see  or  to 
hear  anything. 

The  next  day  Sulkowski  received  an  order  to  go 
immediately  to  Nebigan.  He  was  obliged  to  leave 
Dresden.  The  people  were  waiting  for  him  on  his 
way  in  order  to  jeer  at  him. 

His  little  dog  Fido  was  running  after  his  carriage, 
someone  shot  him.  It  was  done  in  the  day  time,  in 
the  town,  and  no  one  said  anything.  The  Countess 
cried,  the  Count  said  not  a  word,  he  bore  it  stoically, 
pretending  to  know  nothing  about  it. 

The  vile  mob  accompanied  him  beyond  the  bridge, 
running  and  shouting  after  him.  The  coachman 
urged  the  horses,  the  Count  looked  into  the  distance 
and  did  not  even  move — he  felt  superior  to  it  all. 

Briihl  was  told  all  about  this  ;  he  only  smiled. 

At   last   the   new  minister    learned   through   his 


304  Count  Briihl 

spies  that  Sulkowski's  downfall  aroused  in  the  court 
rather  regret  and  fear  than  pleasure.  They 
murmured  everywhere. 

The  only  remedy  for  that  was  to  isolate  the  King 
so  that  no  unauthorised  word  could  penetrate  to 
him.  During  the  next  few  days,  immediately  the 
new  officials  were  appointed,  Bnihl's  brother  became 
the  Grand  Marshal  of  the  court,  the  pages  and 
lackeys  whom  they  suspected  of  having  any  relations 
with  Sulkowski,  were  changed. 

Augustus  got  everything  he  was  fond  of,  but  he 
was  strictly  watched.  He  felt  happy,  since  he  could 
satisfy  his  habits  and  besides  that,  desired  nothing  else. 

It  was  impossible  immediately  to  think  of  restrain- 
ing the  Queen's  influence,  but  it  was  in  Briihrs  plans 
to  do  so.  He  determined  to  act  through  his  wife 
alone,  for  he  feared  that  Guarini  would  not  consent 
to  use  such  radical  measures.  Briihl  felt  omnipotent, 
and  his  viceroys,  as  they  called  his  councillors,  grew 
more  and  more  arrogant. 

They  were  still  afraid  of  Sulkowski  and  it  was 
necessary  to  finish  with  him  once  and  for  ever. 
Henniche  collected  proofs  of  money  appropriated. 
The  action  that  now  had  to  be  put  through  was,  to 
confiscate  the  Fiirstenburg  Palace,  given  to  him  by 
the  King,  to  take  from  him  Nebigan  Castle,  and  lock 
him  up  in  Konigstein.  As  there  had  been  many 
similar  examples  in  the  reign  of  Augustus  the 
Strong,  Briihl  expected  to  be  able  to  carry  out  his 
plans  very  easily.  Sulkowski,  free,  was  dangerous. 
Sulkowski  in  Vienna  would  be  threatening. 

Briihl  was  still  more  alarmed  that  the  Count  did 
not  seem  to  be  crushed  by  his  misfortune.  He 
ordered  his  furniture  to  be  brought  from  Dresden  to 
Nebigan,  and  the  beautiful  situation  of  the  castle 
made  sojourn  in  it  quite  bearable.     From  his  window 


Count  Briihl  305 

Sulkowski  could  see  the  tower  of  the  King's  castle, 
in  which  he  had  been  such  a  powerful  man. 

The  carnival  drew  to  its  end,  the  Count  did  not 
leave  Nebigan. 

Every  day  his  steps  were  dogged  by  spies,  but 
they  could  not  learn  anything.  Nobody  visited  him 
from  town.  Every  day  the  Count's  servants  would 
go  to  Dresden  for  provisions,  but  they  had  no  inter- 
course with  anyone  except  the  shopkeepers. 

The.  Count  would  spend  whole  days  reading,  con- 
versing with  his  wife,  and  writing  letters,  but  the 
spies  never  learned  how  they  were  sent. 

One  morning  Briihl  entered  the  King's  room  with 
a  pile  of  papers.  The  King  hated  the  mere  sight  of 
papers,  and  talk  about  intrigues.  One  word  would 
make  him  sullen. 

Briihl  would  shorten  the  disagreeable  duty  by 
handing  to  the  King  documents  ready  for  his 
signature.  Augustus  III  would  sit  at  a  table  and 
would  sign  them  like  a  machine,  not  looking  at  the 
documents ;  his  signature  was  always  the  same, 
clear,  precise,  majestic  and  quiet. 

That  day,  the  King,  having  noticed  the  papers,  was 
preparing  to  perform  his  onerous  duty,  but  Briihl 
stood  motionless,  and  did  not  unfold  the  documents. 

An  enquiring  look  made  him  speak. 

*  Sire,'  he  said,  *I  have  to-day  such  a  disagreeable 
affair  that  for  the  sake  of  my  lord's  peace  I  should 
like  not  to  speak  about  it.' 

The  King  twisted  his  mouth. 

*  I  would  have  preferred  that  somebody  else  should 
have  done  this,  but  nobody  would  take  my  place,'  said 
Briihl  sighing.    *  Consequently  I  must  speak  myself.' 

'  H'm  ?  '  said  Augustus. 

'Your    Majesty    knows    well,'    Briihl    continued, 
'that  I  am  not  mixed  up  in  Sulkowski's  affairs.' 
u 


306  Count  Briihl 

*  It  is  over !  Enougli  of  it ! '  interrupted  the  King 
impatiently. 

*  Not  altogether,'  rejoined  Briihl,  *  and  that  is  why 
I  feel  so  unhappy.  I  took  his  duties,  I  am  an 
honest  man,  I  was  obliged  to  investigate  everything.* 

The  King  stared  at  Briihl ;  there  was  something 
alarming  in  that  look. 

*  Among  his  papers  were  found  some  letters 
accusing  your  Majesty's  ungrateful  servant ;  there 
were  many  abuses  ;  deficits  in  the  accounts — ' 

The  King  cleared  his  throat. 

*  But  I  still  have  money  ? '  he  asked  with  energy. 

*  Yes,  but  not  as  much  as  there  ought  to  be,'  said 
the  minister.  *  But  the  worst  is  this,  that  the  letters 
exchanged  between  Sulkowski  and  some  foreign 
courts  condemn  him  as  a  most  dangerous  man.  If 
he  goes  to  Poland  he  will  be  protected  by  the  laws 
of  the  republic ;  should  he  go  to  Vienna,  he  might 
be  a  menace  to  us  there.  In  a  word,  wherever 
Sulkowski  might  go — ' 

Briihl  looked  attentively  at  the  King's  face  as  he 
said  this,  but  although  he  knew  his  character  well^ 
he  could  not  guess  what  impression  he  had  made  on 
Augustus  by  his  speech.  Augustus  looked  surprised, 
gazed  round  the  room,  grew  red  and  pale  by  turns, 
appeared  confused,  but  did  not  say  a  word. 

The  minister  waited  for  the  answer.  Augustus 
cleared  his  throat,  coughed  loudly  and  looked 
challengingly  at  Briihl. 

'Your  Majesty,'  Briihl  continued,  'knows  that  I 
am  against  severe  measures.  I  also  loved  that  man, 
he  was  my  friend  as  long  as  he  was  faithful  to  my 
lord.  To-day  as  a  minister,  as  a  faithful  servant,  I 
must  act  against  my  heart.' 

It  was  evidently  an  understood  thing  between 
Briihl   and   Guarini,  that   the   Padre   was   to  enter 


Count  Briihl  307 

during  this  conversation,  and  in  lie  came.  But  tHe 
King  made  quite  a  different  use  of  his  presence  and 
asked  after  Faustina. 

*She   is  very  well,'  answered   Guarini   laughing. 

*  Chi  ha  la  sanita,  e  rieeo,  e  se  no  7  sa.' 

But  Briihl  stood  there  like  an  executioner.  *  Will 
Your  Majesty  permit  me  to  finish  my  unpleasant  busi- 
ness ? '  he  said.     *  Father  Guarini  knows  all  about  it.' 

'  Ah !  He  knows  !  Very  well ! '  said  the  King 
and  turning  to  the  Padre  asked  him  :  *  And  what 
do  you  think  of  it  ?  ' 

The  Padre  shrugged  his  shoulders.  '  I  hold  the 
same  opinion  as  my  gracious  lord,'  he  said  laughing. 

*  I  am  a  priest,  it  is  not  for  me  to  judge  these  things.' 

There  was  a  pause  ;  Augustus  looked  at  the  floor  ; 
Briihl  was  frightened. 

*  During  the  reign  of  Augustus  the  Strong, 
Sulkowski  would  by  this  time  have  been  in 
Konigstein,'  said  Briihl. 

*  No  !  No  ! '  said  Augustus,  looking  at  Briihl  and 
growing  pale ;  then  he  rose  and  paced  to  and  fro. 

Guarini  stood  sighing. 

*I  never  insisted  on  treating  anyone  severely,' 
rejoined  Briihl.  '  I  was  and  I  am  for  clemency,  but 
there  are  proofs  of  such  ingratitude — ' 

The  Jesuit  raised  his  eyes  and  sighed  again.  He 
and  Briihl  both  watched  the  King's  every  movement 
and  did  not  know  what  to  think.  Never  before  had 
he  been  a  riddle  to  them,  knowing  him  they  were 
sure  of  being  able  to  make  him  give  in,  but  the 
question  was,  how  to  do  it  without  wearying  him,  for 
then  he  would  be  angry  with  them  for  tiring  him. 
Briihl  looked  at  Guarini  as  though  urging  him  to 
finish  the  matter.  The  Padre  looked  back  at  the 
minister  with  the  same  silent  request.  Augustus 
directed  his  gaze  steadily  to  the  floor. 


308  Count  Briihl 

*Wliat  are  your  Majesty's  orders?'  asked  BriiM 
persisting. 

'  What  about  ?  '  muttered  the  King. 

'About  Sulkowski.' 

'  Ah  !  yes — yes — ' 

And  again  he  looked  down  at  the  floor. 

At  length  he  turned  to  Briihl,  and  as  it  seemed 
with  a  great  effort,  pointing  to  the  table,  said  : 

'  Leave  the  papers  until  to-morrow.' 

The  minister  grew  confused,  for  he  was  not  willing 
to  leave  the  papers.  Although  he  was  sure  that  the 
King  would  not  read  them  he  was  cautious,  and  being 
afraid  that  something  unexpected  might  happen, 
wished  to  finish  the  business  at  one  blow.  He 
looked  at  Guarini. 

'  Sire,'  said  the  Jesuit  softly,  *it  is  such  a  bitter  pill 
that  it  is  not  worth  while  to  taste  it  twice.  Alcun 
pensier  no  paga  mai  debito.     Why  think  it  over  ?  ' 

The  King  did  not  answer ;  presently  he  turned  to 
Briihl  and  said :  *  In  the  afternoon  shooting  at  the 
target  in  the  castle.' 

The  order  was  significant,  Briihl  was  confounded. 

'  The  last  reindeer  tired  us,'  added  the  King,  '  but 
it  was  worthy  of  our  efforts.' 

He  was  silent  again. 

'And  the  last  died,'  he  added  sighing. 

The  clock  pointed  to  the  hour  at  which  the  King 
was  accustomed  to  go  to  the  Queen ;  he  ordered  a 
chamberlain  to  be  called. 

Briihl  was  dismissed,  having  gained  nothing,  and 
his  efforts  were  frustrated.  He  did  not  know  why  the 
King  resisted  him.  The  King  hastened  off.  They 
were  obliged  to  leave  him,  and  Briihl  called  the  Padre 
into  the  next  room. 

He  threw  the  papers  on  the  table. 

'  I  am  at  a  loss  to  understand  it !  '  he  cried. 


Count  Briihl  309 

*  Patienza  I  Col  tempo  e  colla  paglia  niaturano  le 
nespole ! '  answered  Guarini.  '  Wait  till  to-morrow  ; 
you  could  not  expect  to  do  it  so  soon.  The  King 
must  grow  accustomed  to  the  idea,  and  as  he  dislikes 
every  fresh  attack,  you  will  succeed.* 

The  minister  relapsed  into  thought. 

*  At  any  rate,  it  is  bad,'  he  said,  '  that  he  is  still 
so  fond  of  Sulkowski.' 

They  began  to  whisper,  taking  counsel  of  each 
other.  The  Jesuit  went  to  the  Queen,  Briihl  returned 
home  with  the  papers. 

The  King  being  fond  of  regular  habits,  while 
smoking  his  pipe  in  the  afternoon,  would  never  see 
anyone  except  those  who  could  amuse  him.  Even 
Briihl  was  then  obliged  to  forget  his  duties  as  prime 
minister  and  assume  the  role  of  one  of  the  King's 
fools.  But,  as  there  was  no  danger  on  those  after- 
noons, the  minister  showed  himself  very  seldom. 
The  King  amused  himself  with  his  fools,  and  was 
not  permitted  to  send  for  anybody  outside  the  court, 
for  even  if  Briihl's  creatures  received  such  an  order, 
they  would  find  some  pretext  for  not  fulfilling  it, 
until  they  had  consulted  the  minister. 

From  the  time  of  Augustus  the  Strong  there 
remained  in  the  court  the  famous  fool  Joseph 
Frohlich,  who  wore  a  silver  chamberlain's  key  on 
his  back  containing  a  quart  of  wine. 

Briihl,  who  distrusted  him  as  much  as  the  Baron 
Schmiedel,  tried  to  get  him  dismissed,  but  Augustus 
would  not  permit  him  to  drive  off  all  his  father's 
faithful  servants.  Frohlich  had  his  own  house  beyond 
the  bridge,  was  well  to  do,  and  seldom  appeared  at 
court ;  but  every  time  he  came,  Augustus  would 
laugh  as  soon  as  he  caught  sight  of  his  round  face. 

That  afternoon  Briihl  was  not  with  the  King. 
Frosch  had  a  swollen  face,  the  result  of  a  blow 


310  Count   Briihl 

from  Horch,  and  could  not  come  to  amtise  the 
King.  Therefore  no  one  was  surprised  when  the 
King  told  the  page  to  go  and  bring  Frohlich. 

The  fool  was  very  much  surprised  when  he  received 
the  order  to  go  to  the  castle.  He  quickly  donned 
one  of  the  three  hundred  dresses  purchased  for  him 
by  Augustus  the  Strong,  hung  his  famous  key  on  his 
back,  and  rushed  through  the  bridge  thinking  by 
what  joke  he  could  best  amuse  the  King. 

Even  fools  have  hours  in  which  they  do  not  care 
to  laugh.  Frohlich,  semi^er  nuiiqiiam  traurigy  as 
the  motto  ran  on  a  medal  struck  in  his  honour,  was 
in  such  a  mood  that  day  that  he  was  not  frohlich  but 
sour  as  vinegar.  He  would  not  confess  it,  but  he  liked 
the  times  of  Augustus  II  better  than  those  of  his  son. 

But  the  habit  of  being  amusing  to  order  enabled 
him  to  be  merry  when  he  appeared  before  the  King. 

Besides  being  witty,  Frohlich  was  a  very  able 
conjuror,  and  it  was  just  then  more  easy  for  him  to 
begin  by  some  trick  than  a  witticism. 

Kneeling  before  the  King,  Frohlich  said  that  he 
ran  so  fast  that  his  throat  was  dry.  He  took  off  his 
key  and  asked  if  his  Majesty  would  be  kind  enough 
to  permit  him  to  strengthen  his  forces  by  a  draught 
of  wine.  The  King  clapped  his  hands  and  told  a 
page  to  bring  a  bottle. 

In  the  meantime  Frohlich  employed  himself  clean- 
ing his  key  which  was  a  little  rusty,  and  from  which 
he  was  going  to  drink,  complaining  that  he  seldom 
used  it  now.  The  page  stood  with  the  bottle  ready  to 
pour  in  the  wine,  when  Frohlich  looking  at  the  bottom 
of  his  key,  grew  frightened  at  seeing  something  in  it. 

*  Who  woidd  have  expected,'  he  exclaimed,  *  that  a 
bird  would  build  a  nest  in  it  ?  '  And  a  canary  flew 
out  of  the  key.  The  King  laughed  ;  but  that  was 
not  all ;    there  was  still  something  more  in  the  key 


Count  Briihl  311 

and  the  fool  took  out  a  pile  of  ribbons,  six  hand- 
kerchiefs, a  candle,  and  a  handful  of  nuts.  Then  he 
said  that  not  being  certain  that  there  was  not  an 
enchanted  princess  in  the  key,  he  would  prefer  to 
drink  the  King's  health  from  a  glass.  After  some 
refreshment,  the  fool  began  to  amuse  the  King  by- 
imitating  well-known  actors. 

The  entertainment  lasted  about  half  an  hour. 
The  King  laughed,  but  Frohlich  noticed  that  in 
spite  of  his  apparent  mirth,  he  was  uneasy,  perplexed 
and  distracted.  He  wondered  what  the  cause  could 
be,  when,  to  his  surprise,  the  King  went  to  the 
farthest  window,  and  motioned  to  him  to  follow. 

There  was  something  so  mysterious  and  unusual 
in  this  that  Frohlich  was  alarmed.  He  followed 
the  King,  however,  to  the  window,  where  he  was 
standing,  looking  round  undecided  and  alarmed. 
The  fool  could  not  solve  the  riddle. 
'Frohlich,  listen,'  said  the  King  in  a  whisper, 
*  h'm  !  laugh  aloud,  laugh,  but  listen  to  what  I  am 
going  to  say,     Do  you  understand  ?  ' 

As  yet  the  fool  did  not  understand,  but  he  began 
to  laugh  so  loudly  as  to  deafen  the  loudest  conversation. 
The  King  took  hold  of  his  ear  and  drew  it  almost 
to  his  lips. 

'  Frohlich  is  faithful,  honest,  will  not  betray  me,*  he 
said.  *  To-day,  go  secretly  to  Nebigan.  Understand  ? 
Tell  him,  understand,  to  escape  at  once  to  Poland.' 

Frohlich  could  not  understand  why  the  King  should 
use  him  as  a  secret  messenger.  It  did  not  strike  him 
to  think  of  Sulkowski.  He  made  a  gesture  that  he 
did  not  understand.  The  King  bent  again  over  his 
ear  and  said  one  word  only  •  '  Sulkowski ! ' 

Having  said  this,  as  though  frightened  at  having 
mentioned  a  name  forbidden  to  be  spoken  at  the 
court,   he    drew  aside,     Frohlich  could  not  laugh 


312  Count   Briihl 

any  more.     He  was   so  frightened  that  he  did  not 
yet  comprehend. 

His  face  must  have  expressed  the  doubt,  for  the 
King  told  him  again  to  laugh,  aloud,  repeating  the 
order  precisely. 

He  spoke  quickly,  incoherently,  but  at  length  the 
fool  understood  that  the  King  told  him  to  warn  the 
Count  of  his  danger,  and  bid  him  escape  to  Poland. 

In  order  not  to  arouse  suspicion  Augustus  con- 
tinued for  a  time  to  listen  to  the  fool's  jokes  and  then 
taking  a  handful  of  gold  pieces  from  his  pocket,  put 
them  into  Frohlich's  hands. 

*  Go  !  '  said  the  King. 

Frohlich,  after  being  permitted  to  kiss  the  King's 
hand,  went  out  and  ran  home  as  fast  as  he  could. 

He  hardly  grasped  what  had  happened  to  him.  It 
was  necessary  to  collect  his  thoughts  and  take  counsel 
with  himself,  how  he  could  best  fulfil  the  King's  order, 
for  he  was  afraid  of  his  entourage. 

He  fell  into  deep  thought,  and  sighed.  The  task 
was  difficult.  Even  had  he  been  less  familiar  with 
the  life  of  the  court  and  the  fate  of  favourites,  he 
could  easily  guess  that  there  were  plenty  of  spies 
round  Nebigan  and  probably  also  in  the  castle. 

Frohlich  was  a  well-known  person,  but  happily  the 
frequent  fancy-dress  balls,  given  during  the  reign  of 
Augustus  the  Strong,  accustomed  most  people  to  the 
art  of  disguising  themselves.  Frohlich  closeted  him- 
self in  his  room  and  without  losing  time  commenced 
to  work  at  his  transformation. 

It  was  early  in  February,  the  river  Elbe  was  covered 
with  strong  ice,  and  it  seemed  to  Frohlich  that  access 
to  Nebigan  was  easiest  and  safest  from  the  river.  It  . 
was  too  late  to  travel  on  foot,  so  he  hired  a  sledge  at 
Briesnitz,  and  having  promised  the  driver  high  pay, 
was  driven  swiftly  to  an  inn  in  the  village  of  Nebigan 


Count  Briihl  313 

Telling  tlie  driver  to  wait,  he  went  out  through, 
another  door  and  walked  towards  the  river. 

He  felt  that  only  by  some  good  luck  could  he  fulfil 
his  dangerous  mission.  On  arriving  at  the  castle  he 
hesitated,  then  he  entered  the  courtyard  and  ran  as 
fast  as  he  could  to  the  hall.  It  was  dark  and  no  one 
was  about.  Sulkowski  never  kept  many  servants  and 
now  he  had  still  less.  The  stairs  were  dark,  and  only 
on  ascending  them  did  he  hear  voices.  In  the  ante- 
room the  servants  were  quarrelling  over  their  game 
of  cards. 

At  the  sight  of  a  strangely  dressed  man,  coming  at 
such  an  unusual  hour,  they  sprang  to  their  feet, 
asking  him  what  he  wanted. 

Frohlich  said  that  he  must  see  the  Count  at  once. 
The  butler  first  searched  his  pockets,  fearing  that  he 
might  carry  arms,  or  might  have  come  with  some  evil 
design,  then  went  to  the  Count  to  announce  the 
stranger. 

There  was  some  stir  in  the  castle :  the  wig,  the 
clothes  and  the  handkerchief  with  which  his  face  was 
covered  did  not  permit  them  to  recognise  Frohlich. 
They  showed  him  into  a  drawing-room,  just  lighted 
for  the  purpose.  Sulkowski  was  pale  but  quiet  and 
as  proud  as  if  he  were  still  prime  minister.  The 
visitor  requested  that  the  servant  might  be  dismissed. 
The  request  aroused  some  suspicion  and  alarm,  but 
the  Count  did  not  betray  his  feelings.  As  soon  as 
they  were  alone,  Frohlich  uncovered  his  face. 

'  Two  hours  ago,'  he  said,  '  I  was  called  to  the  King ; 
I  shall  repeat  his  own  words  :  '*  To-day,  secretly,  go 
to  Nebigan — tell  him  to  escape  at  once  to  Poland."  ' 

Sulkowski  listened  indifferently. 

*  The  King  told  you  this  ?  '  he  asked. 

*  Yes,  and  with  fear  lest  he  might  be  overheard,  as 
though  he  were  a  slave  and  not  a  king.' 


314  Count   Briihl 

*  He  is  a  slave  and  will  remain  so  for  ever/  sighed 
Sulkowski. 

He  became  pensive. 

'  May  God  reward  you/  he  said  presently,  *  for  the 
trouble  you  have  taken  for  me,  or  rather  for  the 
King.     How  can  I  show  you  my  gratitude  ? ' 

'Only  by  this,  that  your  Excellency  fulfils  the 
King's  will  to-night.' 

The  Count  stood  as  if  riveted  to  the  ground. 
•    Frohlich  went  out   to  find  his  sledge,  while  the 
Count  still  stood  undecided  as  to  what  to  do. 

He  knew  enough  of  Briihl  to  understand  that  his 
wisest  course  was  to  follow  the  King's  advice. 

The  next  day  as  the  King  was  returning  from 
chapel,  Guarini  came  to  him  to  wish  him  good 
morning.  To  this  the  King  would  usually  answer  by 
sounds  similar  to  those  produced  by  clearing  his  throat, 
laughter  or  hiccoughs.  The  King's  face  indicated 
excellent  health,  which  he  inherited  from  his  father, 
and  as  he  did  not  abuse  it,  it  served  him  admirably. 

Guarini  with  other  courtiers  accompanied  the  King. 

The  King  looked  at  him  inquisitively  several  times, 
as  if  trying  to  learn  something  from  the  expression  of 
his  face  ;  at  length  he  said  laconically  :  '  Cold.' 

*  I  feel  it,  for  at  best  I  am  an  Italian,'  said  Guarini, 
'but  notwithstanding  the  cold,'  he  continued  in  a 
whisper,  '  there  are  people  who  do  not  fear  to  travel. 
A  certain  Count  whose  name  I  will  not  mention,  for  he 
was  unfortunate  enough  to  fall  into  disgrace — started 
last  night,  so  I  heard,  to  an  unknown  destination.' 

The  King  as  though  not  hearing  made  no  answer. 

Briihl  was  waiting  in  the  King's  room  with  the 
documents,  but  he  was  distracted  and  morose. 

Augustus  came  to  him  quickly.  *  Briihl !  those 
papers  of  yesterday  ;  we  must  finish  with  them.' 

'  All  is  over,'  ansA veered  the  minister,  sighing. 


CHAPTER  XXII 

BrUhl  conquered,  but  for  many  years  he  was 
afraid  of  the  revenge  Sulkowski  might  take,  which, 
however,  the  latter  never  attempted.  Sulkowski, 
having  purchased  a  large  estate  from  the  King 
Leszczynski,  and  also  being  occupied  in  admini- 
strating his  other  estate  in  Silesia,  being  moreover 
created  prince  by  the  Emperor  of  Austria,  enjoyed  his 
life  and  did  not  trouble  to  recall  himself  to  Augustus 
III,  now  so  completely  dominated  by  Briihl. 

The  present  stoiy  is  only  a  preface  to  Briihrs  life 
who  until  the  death  of  Augustus  ruled  over  Saxony  and 
Poland  ;  he  became  a  Polish  nobleman  and,  as  he  him- 
self said,  played  a  most  interesting  role  as  a  favourite, 
whom  good  luck  never  deserted  till  the  day  of  his 
death.  It  would  be  unsatisfactory  to  give  a  mere 
synopsis  of  this  curious  drama.  Brtihl  is  a  historical 
figure  as  well  as  a  remarkable  type  of  his  epoch  ;  in 
Briihl's  life,  that  of  Augustus  III  appears  as  in  a  mirror. 

Here  the  story  might  close,  had  not  tradition  left 
an  interesting  incident  which  may  form  a  fitting 
epilogue  to  the  tale. 

In  1756,  during  the  war  with  Prussia,  when  Briihl 
was  in  the  height  of  his  power,  he  was  obliged  to  fl^^ 
to  Poland  with  Augustus  III,  who  left  to  the  victor 
all  his  property — his  palaces,  libraries,  galleries, 
collections.  It  was  late  in  the  autumn  and  the  court 
carriages,  on  account  of  bad  roads  and  the  scarcity 
of  horses  in  Silesia,  were  divided  into  several  groups. 
It  so  happened  that  the  King  was  in  the  first  of  these 
and  his  minister  in  the  last.  Briihl  greatly  feared 
capture  by  the  King  of  Prussia  who  hated  him,  and 
in  consequence  endeavoured    to  reach  Augustus  in 


316  Count   Briihl 

whose  company  he  felt  safer.  But  misfortune 
pursued  him  ;  the  horses  dropped  dead,  the  wheels 
broke,  and  haste  was  impossible.  The  rain  rendered 
the  roads  so  bad  that  double  teams  for  the  carriages 
were  insufficient.  Briihl  was  obliged  to  accept  his 
fate.  Recent  events  had  much  depressed  him,  he 
had  lost  millions  and  was  obliged  to  fly  to  Poland 
where  he  could  not  rule  so  absolutely  as  in  Saxony. 
No  wonder  then  that  the  pet  of  fortune  was  gloomy, 
frightened  and  impatient.  Sometimes  he  was  so 
absent-minded  that  he  did  not  even  understand  what 
was  said  to  him. 

Evening  was  approaching,  it  was  raining  hard,  the 
horses  could  hardly  drag  themselves  along,  when  the 
steeples  and  lights  of  a  small  hamlet  appeared 
through  the  grey  curtain  of  rain.  Briihl  expected 
to  find  the  King  here,  but  at  the  posting  station  he 
was  told  that  his  Majesty  was  going  to  pass  the  night 
about  twenty  miles  further  on,  and  it  was  impossible 
to  get  horses.  Briihl  promised  to  buy  the  horses  but 
nobody  would  accept  his  offer  and  he  was  forced  to 
seek  a  lodging  in  the  village. 

His  numerous  attendants,  for  he  had  lately  been 
made  a  Count,  dispersed  to  find  him  decent  accom- 
modation. There  was  only  one  inn  called  '  Ye  Old 
Horse,'  which  was  occupied  by  a  Polish  nobleman 
and  his  retinue.  The  minister  thought  that  at  the 
sound  of  his  name  the  inn  would  be  immediately 
vacated  in  his  favour,  for  the  Polish  nobles  were  very 
polite,  outside  their  house  of  parliament,  and  Briihl 
was  omnipotent  and  could  reward  the  courtesy  with 
the  gift  of  some  state  property.  Count  Briihl's  major- 
domo  hastened  to  'Ye  Old  Horse'  where  he  found 
the  numerous  and  lordly  retinue  of  someone  whom 
they  called  prince.  Without  asking  the  name  of  the 
nobleman  he  preferred  his  request,  or,  as  he  thought, 


Count  Briihl  317 

command,  that  they  should  vacate  it  in  favour  of  his 
Excellency  the  Count  Briihl.  The  prince,  on  hearing 
the  name  made  a  grimace,  pondered  a  while,  and 
answered  in  very  good  German,  even  betraying  the 
Saxon  accent,  that  he  would  not  give  up  the  inn,  but 
would  share  it  with  the  minister. 

In  the  meantime  the  sleet  was  beating  so  effectually 
against  the  windows  of  the  Count's  carriage  that  it 
found  its  way  inside.  The  messenger  returned  with 
the  answer  and  Briihl,  not  apprehending  any  incon- 
venience from  meeting  a  stranger  ordered  them  to 
drive  to  the  inn. 

He  expected  that  someone  would  come  out  to  meet 
him,  but  he  was  mistaken.  It  was  Briihl's  custom 
to  double  his  civility  when  he  was  slighted,  and  he 
alighted  from  the  carriage  with  a  determination  to 
put  the  proud  nobleman  to  shame  by  his  amiability. 
The  butler  threw  open  the  door,  and  the  minister 
hastened  into  a  large  room,  in  which  there  was  a  fire 
in  the  grate,  and  two  lighted  candles  on  the  table. 
Looking  round  for  the  prince,  he  perceived,  standing 
at  the  further  end  of  the  room,  not  in  the  least  em- 
barrassed at  the  meeting,  only  a  little  older,  but  still 
more  proud  than  ever — Sulkowski. 

The  prince  stood  silently  looking  down  on  his 
adversary,  without  greeting  him. 

Briihl  grew  pale  and  wanted  to  withdraw,  thinking 
that  he  had  fallen  into  an  ambush.  His  face  changed 
so  strangely,  that  Sulkowski  could  not  help  smiling. 

Evidently  recollecting  Guarini  and  his  Italian 
proverbs,  he  said  : 

^  Si  rineontrano  gli  uomini^  e  non  le  montagne.^ 

Briihl  stood  astounded 

'  I  am  sure  you  know  the  fable,'  said  Sulkowski, 
*  about  a  storm,  during  which  a  wolf  found  himself 
in  a  cavern  with  a  lamb — it  is  something  like  that 


318  Count  Briihl 

with  us  !     During  such  bad  weather  it  would  not  bo 
right  to  refuse  hospitality  even  to  a  foe.' 
Briihl  was  silent. 

*  Count,  you  may  rest  assured  that  I  shall  not 
take  advantage  of  the  situation,  in  order  to  annoy 
you,'  added  Sulkowski.  '  Our  meeting  amuses  me 
very  much,  especially  when  I  think  that  I  am 
avenged  by  your  fate  after  fourteen  years.' 

*  Prince  !  '  said  Briihl  very  sweetly. 

*  Count ! '  Sulkowski  rejoined,  'had  it  depended 
upon  you,  I  should  have  had  a  lodging  in  Konigstein 
instead  of  a  principality.' 

*  Prince !  '  retorted  Briihl,  '  you  attribute  to  me 
greater  power  than  I  had.  The  reasons  of  your 
downfall  were,  in  the  first  place,  your  own  lack  of 
foresight,  secondly,  right  or  not,  the  King's  anger, 
and  lastly,  his  Majesty's  will,  of  which  I  was  merely 
the  executioner.' 

'  Count ! '  said  the  Prince,  *  you  should  put  it 
as  it  will  be  written  in  history,  namely,  that  the  King 
was  and  is  the  executor  of  your  fancies — ' 

*  Prince,  you  are  mistaken — ' 

'  I  hope  you  do  not  think  me  so  stupid,'  rejoined 
Sulkowski,  *  that  knowing  your  character  and  the  situa- 
tion, 1  could  be  persuaded  that  you  were  innocent.' 

*  1  call  God  to  witness ! '  cried  Briihl,  clasping  hid 
hands. 

*That  is  very  comfortable,'  answered  Sulkowski, 
*for  that  witness  never  comes  on  earth.  The  best 
proof  is  the  fate  you  have  met  with.  The  fruits  of 
your  policy  are :  the  Prussian  invasion,  and  the 
King's  shameful  flight.' 

Briihl  was  indignant. 

*  It  is  only  a  beginning  and  not  the  end,'  he  said,  *  we 
shall  see  what  will  become  of  the  invaders  and  of  us.* 

*Yes,'   said   Sulkowski    smiling,    *  the   King   and 


Count   Brlihl  319 

you,  that  is  to  say,  you,  are  going  to  make  another 
country  happy,  and  do  with  Poland  as  you  have 
done  with  Saxony.' 

*In  the  administration  at  Saxony,'  Brlihl  said 
sarcastically,  'I had  no  need  to  introduce  anything 
new,  it  sufficed  to  follow  the  steps  of  my  worthy 
predecessor.' 

Sulkowski's  eyes  shone. 

*  Your  predecessor  planned  quite  differently  for 
the  future  of  Saxony,'  said  Sulkowski  proudly,  *  and 
the  best  proof  of  that  w^as  the  plan  you  gave  to  the 
Austrian  Court  through  the  Prince  von  Lichtenstein.' 

Briihl  was  confused. 

'  I  ?    I  know  nothing  about  it,'  he  muttered  sulkily. 

Sulkowski  laughed,  and  paced  to  and  fro. 

'  Briihl,  list-en ;  I  speak  as  formerly,  without 
giving  you  your  title,'  he  said,  *do  not  play  the 
fool  with  me,  for  it  is  useless.' 

*I  have  nothing  to  reproach  myself  with,'  said 
Briihl,  *  and  I  forgive  you.  Prince,  you  are  talking 
like  a  competitor  who  failed  to  accomplish  what 
good  fortune  gave  to  me.' 

'  How  can  you  call  that  good  fortune  ?  *  said 
Sulkowski  laughing.     *  Padre  Guarini,  or — ' 

Briihl  blushed,  the  prince  shrugged  his  shoulders. 

'Upon  my  honour.  Count,  I  admire  you  from  a 
distance,  but  you  must  not  tell  me  that  I  would 
have  done  the  same  in  your  place  !  I  most  humbly 
avow  that  I  could  not  use  so  much  falsehood  as 
you  did  for  your  plans.  I  wanted  to  see  Saxony 
powerful  and  Augustus  III  famous;  he  was  noble 
but  weak  and  lazy ;  I  wanted  to  supply  him  with 
my  energy.  What  I  possess  I  owe  to  the  King's 
munificence  and  not  to  dishonest  calculations.' 

*  Prince  !  '  exclaimed  Briihl,  '  that  is  too  much  ! ' 
Sulkowski  turned  to  him  and  continued  : — • 


320  Count   Briihl 

*  But  we  can  be  honest  and  laugh  at  this 
comedy  behind  the  scenes  as  the  Roman  augurs 
did.  You  may  be  to  others  as  innocent  as  Ephraim, 
but  to  me  you  will  always  remain  Briihl,  whom  I 
remember  wearing  the  uniform  of  a  page  and 
saluting  the  lackeys.' 

With  these  words,  Sulkowski  took  his  fur  cap, 
and  taking  no  further  notice  of  Briihl,  walked  out. 
The  wind  was  still  howling,  the  rain  pouring  down, 
but  the  prince  ordered  his  carriage  to  be  brought 
round. 

The  servants  were  amazed  but  ventured  no  remark, 

*  Not  a  word  !  We  go  to  the  next  village,  but  we 
leave  here  and  at  once.' 

He  did  not  return  to  the  room  in  which  he  had 
left  Briihl ;  even  the  icy  cold  was  preferable  to  that, 
and  when  after  a  long  delay  the  carriage  came  to  the 
door,  he  sprang  in,  and  answered  the  servant's  enquiry 
where  to  drive  to,  with  :  'Anywhere  you  please.' 

Against  the  lighted  panes  of  the  window  there 
appeared  the  shadow  of  a  man,  as  of  one  peering  into 
the  darkness.  The  carriage  rolled  away  into  the  night 
and  the  shadow  of  the  man  at  the  window  disappeared. 


MERCAT  PRKSS,    JEDlNBURGtt 


ETURN 


CIRCULATION  DEPARTMENT 

198  Main  Stacks 


OAN  PERIOD  1 
HOME  USE 

2 

3 

5 

6 

L  BOOKS  MAY  BE  RECALLED  AFTER  7  DAYS. 

newls  and  Recharges  may  be  made  4  days  prior  to  the  due  date. 

oks  may  be  Renewed  by  calling  642-3405. 

DUE  AS  STAMPED  BELOW 

KPU?'?^^^ 

i 

'R  2  1  2000 

»RM  NO.  DD6 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA,  BERKELEY 
BERKELEY  CA  94720-6000 


f 


|y!40733 


THE  UNIVERSITY  OF  CAUFORNIA  UBRARY 


k 


